Accountable Care Organizations participating in the APM Performance Pathway (APP) must meet annual quality data reporting requirements. Quality data must be submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in a specified format which may be a challenge for some Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). If your electronic health record (EHR) system is unable to aggregate all eligible patients and de-duplicate them at your ACO Entity ID level or if you need to aggregate data across more than one EHR, MDinteractive can help by converting your quality data into the acceptable format for submission to CMS. 

The 2022 MIPS reporting period is in full swing. This year it’s more important than ever to start planning and reporting early due to significant changes that could impact MIPS scores and associated payment adjustments. Postponing reporting to later in the year could be a costly mistake. This 2022 MIPS Reporting Checklist will help clinicians get started now so they can prepare for a successful reporting year. 

Practices participating in the Primary Care First (PCF) program must meet annual Quality data reporting requirements. Quality data must be submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in a specified PCF QRDA III format which may be a challenge for some practices. If your electronic health record (EHR) system is unable to aggregate data at the practice site level or if you need to aggregate data across 2 different EHRs, MDinteractive can help by converting your Quality data into the acceptable format. You can find more information about the PCF QRDA III format here.

The Radiation Oncology (RO) Model is a new payment approach developed by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (the “Innovation Center”) that applies to providers and suppliers of radiation therapy (RT) services. The model will test whether making prospective episode payments for RT episodes of care preserves or improves the quality of care delivered to Medicare beneficiaries while reducing Medicare spending. Clinicians chosen to participate in the mandatory model will be required to annually report Quality measures. While implementation of the model has been delayed to January 1, 2023, providers should become familiar with its potential impact on their practices and learn how MDinteractive can assist them with their Quality data reporting.

CMS has updated the Quality Payment Program (QPP) Participation Status Tool for the 2021 performance year. Clinicians can now check their final 2021 eligibility status for the Merit-based Incentive Payment Program (MIPS) by entering their individual National Provider Identifier (NPI) into the tool or checking their MDinteractive account dashboard. Clinicians can also check their eligibility in an Advanced Alternative Payment Model (APM) and their initial 2022 MIPS eligibility status. It's important to review the participation tool in case there have been any changes in a clinician’s MIPS eligibility.

On November 2, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the Final Rule for the 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) which includes several changes to the Quality Payment Program (QPP). The Rule makes significant revisions to the existing MIPS program and outlines a timeframe for transitioning to the new MIPS Value Pathways (MVPs). Here are the key takeaways that will have a major impact on the future of clinician reporting.  

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced it has reopened its reweighting request period for the 2020 MIPS performance year due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinicians, groups, virtual groups, and Alternative Payment Model (APM) Entities may request MIPS performance category reweighting for 2020 under the Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances (EUC) policy now through November 29, 2021, at 8 p.m. ET.  All clinicians should carefully review their final individual and group-level MIPS scores and payment adjustment information as some clinicians are receiving a penalty if their practice coded Medicare Part B claims in 2020.

We understand that keeping track of important dates for MIPS reporting can be a challenge, so we have prepared two lists of key dates to mark on your calendars for your 2021 and 2022 MIPS reporting.  Knowing what to do, and when, throughout the calendar year can save you a lot of headaches when it’s time to report and help you avoid paying any MIPS penalties.

Technology has transformed how consumers perform a variety of daily activities and transactions. With a computer or smartphone, they can buy tickets and book travel, access their bank accounts, use GPS map assistance and so much more. Unfortunately, they don’t have the same flexibility when it comes to healthcare. This is changing, however, with the development of a new standard for exchanging electronic healthcare information called the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resource, or FHIR (pronounced “fire”).  

The MIPS Promoting Interoperability (PI) category, which replaced the Meaningful Use program, establishes requirements that promote the electronic exchange of information using certified electronic health record technology (CEHRT). MIPS eligible clinicians and groups are scored on their performance on several PI measures. Making sense of all of the requirements can be challenging, so let’s examine how to report the PI category and the potential impact on the MIPS final score.