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MIPS Targeted Review Request: Deadline October 1

Health Policy
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Payment, Merit-Based Incentive Program Payment System (MIPS), Quality Payment Program (QPP), Practitioners
August 30, 2018

If you participated in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) in 2017, your MIPS final score and performance feedback are available on the Quality Payment Program website. The payment adjustment you receive in 2019 is based on this final score. If you believe there is an error in your 2019 MIPS payment adjustment calculation, you can request a targeted review until October 1 at 8 pm.

Contact the Quality Payment Program at 866-288-8292 (TTY: 877-715-6222) or ...

CMS Posts New Proposed RAC Review Topics

Health Policy
Skilled Nursing Care, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Practitioners
August 30, 2018

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted 10 new proposed Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) Review Topics to its website for a 30-day comment period. CMS began posting the proposed review topics last year in response to specialty societies that wanted to have the opportunity to provide feedback before the review topics are finalized. There are a few proposed review topics of particular interest...

2016 PQRS and 2018 Value Modifier Experience Reports

Health Policy
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Payment, Merit-Based Incentive Program Payment System (MIPS), Quality Payment Program (QPP), Practice Management, Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), Practitioners
August 23, 2018

Find data from the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) and Value-Based Payment Modifier Programs. Payment adjustments for 2018 are based on 2016 data.

2019 MIPS Performance Year Virtual Groups Toolkit and Webinar

Health Policy
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Payment, Merit-Based Incentive Program Payment System (MIPS), Quality Payment Program (QPP), Practitioners
August 23, 2018

To form a virtual group for the 2019 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) performance year, follow the election process and submit your election between October 1 and December 31, 2018. See the 2019 Virtual Groups Toolkit, which includes :

  • Overview Fact Sheet: Who can participate, how to collect and submit data, and how groups are scored
  • Election Process: Two-stage election process and what needs to be included in an agreement
    • ...

LIVE WEBINAR:  MACRA MIPS and APMs: Current Requirements and Proposed Changes

Health Policy
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Payment, Alternative Payment Models (APM), Medicare Access and CHIP Re-authorization Act (MACRA), Merit-Based Incentive Program Payment System (MIPS), Quality Payment Program (QPP), Practice Management, Practitioners
August 16, 2018

Live Webinar: MACRA MIPS and APMs: Current Requirements and Proposed Changes

Date: Thursday, August 23, 2018

Time: 2:00pm-3:30pm Eastern

Speakers: Benjamin Chin; Brittany LaCouture; Molly MacHarris

Description:

Senior Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) officials will present a webinar on August 23 (2:00 - 3:30 pm Eastern Time) detailing requirements of the 2018 Quality Payment Program (QPP) as well as the proposed changes for the 2019 program. Free...

CMS Issues Proposed Rule on Medicare Shared Savings Program

Health Policy
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Payment, Accountable Care Organization (ACO), Practice Management, Practitioners
August 16, 2018

On August 9, CMS issued a proposed rule that would set a new direction for the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Referred to as “Pathways to Success,” this proposed new direction for the program would redesign the participation options available to:

  • Encourage Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) to transition to two-sided models (in which they may share in savings and are accountable for repaying shared losses)
  • Increase savings for the trust funds and mitigate losses
  • Reduce gaming opportunity and increase program integrity
  • Promote regulatory
    • ...

Quality Payment Program: Participation Status Tool Includes 2018 Data Snapshot

Health Policy
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Payment, Alternative Payment Models (APM), Medicare Access and CHIP Re-authorization Act (MACRA), Merit-Based Incentive Program Payment System (MIPS), Quality Payment Program (QPP), Practice Management, Practitioners
August 16, 2018

CMS updated the Quality Payment Program Participation Status Tool to include 2018 Qualifying Alternative Payment Model (APM) Participant (QP) and Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) APM status. The tool is updated based on calculations from Medicare Part B claims with dates of service between January 1 and March 31, 2018.

For more information:

    • ...

Quality Payment Program Hardship Exception Applications Due by December 31

Health Policy
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Payment, Merit-Based Incentive Program Payment System (MIPS), Quality Payment Program (QPP), Electronic Health Records (EHR), Practitioners
August 9, 2018

The 2018 Quality Payment Program (QPP) Exception Applications for the Merit-based Incentive System (MIPS) Promoting Interoperability performance category and for Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances are available. Submit a hardship exception application by December 31.

Contact the QPP at ...

Quality Payment Program: 2017 MIPS Performance Feedback and Payment Adjustment

Health Policy
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Payment, Merit-Based Incentive Program Payment System (MIPS), Quality Payment Program (QPP)
August 9, 2018

If you submitted 2017 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) data through the Quality Payment Program (QPP) website, go online to view your performance feedback and MIPS final score. Log in using your Enterprise Identity Management (EIDM) credentials; if you don’t have an EIDM account, refer to this guide.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) originally...

Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule: Understanding 3 Key Topics Listening Session from CMS — August 22

Health Policy
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Payment, Coding, Reimbursement, & Documentation, Merit-Based Incentive Program Payment System (MIPS), Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), Quality Payment Program (QPP), Practitioners
August 9, 2018

Proposed changes to the CY 2019 Physician Fee Schedule would increase the amount of time doctors and other clinicians spend with their patients by reducing the burden of Medicare paperwork. During this listening session on Wednesday, August 22, from 1:30 to 3 pm, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) experts will briefly cover three provisions from the proposed rule and address your clarifying questions so you can formulate written comments for formal submission:

  • Streamlining Evaluation and Management (E/M) payment and reducing clinician burden
  • Advancing
    • ...