Proposed policy, payment, and quality provisions changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule On July 12, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program proposed rule with comment period. This is the first year the two rules have been combined. CMS also issued QPP and PFS fact sheets on the proposed rule. CMS is accepting comments on the proposed rule through September 10, 2018. The final rule is expected to be released in early November. American Medical Association staff is continuing to conduct a detailed review of the proposed rule and ... July 25, 2018 Managed Care, Medicare CMS, PFS, Physician Fee Schedule, QPP, Quality Payment Program 0 0 Comment Read More »
10 Things to Do and Know About MIPS Reporting Deadlines Deadlines are fast approaching if you plan to submit data for the 2017 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) performance period. Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your data. Submit early and often. The two key dates are: March 16 at 8 pm Eastern time for group reporting via the CMS web interface March 31 for all other MIPS reporting, including via qpp.cms.gov Now is the time to act. Here are the top 10 things you need to do and know ... February 8, 2018 General Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMS, MACRA , MIPS, QPP, quality payment program 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMS National Provider Calls include discussions on PQRS and Physician Compare in September The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service’s (CMS) September 2017 National Provider Call topics include the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) on September 26 and on Physician Compare on September 28. PQRS provider call: While 2016 was the last program year for PQRS and the final data submission time frame for reporting 2016 PQRS quality data to avoid the 2018 payment penalty was January through March 2017, this call will cover PQRS penalties, feedback reports, and the informal review process for 2016 results and 2018 payment adjustment determinations. For more information ... September 27, 2017 Medi-Cal, Medicare CMS, Physician Compare, Physician Quality Reporting System, PQRS 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMS now accepting QPP hardship applications for 2017 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is now accepting hardship exceptions from the Medicare Quality Payment Program (QPP) for the 2017 reporting year. Beginning with this reporting year, physicians who do not participate in QPP will see a negative 4 percent payment adjustment in 2019. Physicians who do participate may qualify for bonus payments. Physicians and groups that qualify for the QPP’s Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) can submit a hardship exception application for one of the following reasons: Insufficient internet connectivity ... August 9, 2017 Medicare CalHIPSO, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS, MACRA, Medicare, Medicare Quality Payment Program (QPP), Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMS dedicates new webpage to Medicare Beneficiary Identification number change The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to remove Social Security numbers from Medicare cards to prevent identity theft. CMS has said it will in 2018 begin issuing new Medicare cards that replace the current identification number—which is the beneficiary's Social Security Number—with an all-new Medicare Beneficiary Identification (MBI) number. CMS has developed a new webpage to help physicians navigate the transition to the new MBI number, including a recently developed resource on how to talk to your ... August 8, 2017 Medi-Cal, Medicare CMS, Medicare, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, MACRA 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMS releases proposed Medicare physician fee schedule for 2018 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the proposed 2018 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The California Medical Association (CMA) is pleased to note that there are a number of positive proposed changes that would help physicians improve patient care. CMS is also soliciting ideas from physicians to reduce Medicare and Medicaid regulatory hassles. Highlights of the proposed rule include: Request for information on regulatory relief: CMA applauds CMS’ invitation for physicians to submit ideas for regulatory, policy, practice and procedural changes to improve the health care system to ... July 24, 2017 Medicare CMS, Fee Schedule, Medicare, Regulatory Advocacy 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA Open Payments data shows that only 5.6% of physicians looked at their records The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced last week that in 2016, only 5.6 percent of physicians nationwide reviewed their data under the Medicare Open Payments program. Under the Open Payments program, drug and medical device manufacturers are required to report their financial interactions with licensed physicians – including consulting fees, travel reimbursements, research grants and other gifts. Medicare publicly released calendar-year 2016 Open Payments data on June 30 following a 45-day period during which physicians were able to review their data and dispute errors. According to CMS, only 34,871 ... July 24, 2017 Medicare CMS, Medicare, Medicare Open Payments Program 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMS to issue MIPS participation status notices Starting in late April, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) began notifying physicians whether they will be subject to Medicare's new Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). MIPS is part of the new Medicare Quality Payment Program established under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). Providers with less than $30,000 in Medicare payments or fewer than 100 Medicare patients are exempt from the MIPS reporting requirements. Physicians who exceed this threshold are subject to MIPS and are encouraged to participate in MIPS for the 2017 ... May 22, 2017 General, Managed Care, Medicare CMS, MACRA, Medicare, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 0 0 Comment Read More »
Open Payments review and dispute period open Drug and medical device manufacturers have completed their submission of data to the Open Payments system on payments or transfers of value made to physicians during 2016. Physicians now have 45 days to review and dispute records attributed to them. The review and dispute period is open until May 15, 2017. The review and dispute process is voluntary, but encouraged. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will publish the 2016 payment data, along with updates to the 2013 and 2014 data, on June 30, 2017. Disputes that are ... April 19, 2017 General, Managed Care, Medicare Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS, Medical Devices, Physician Payments Sunshine Act, Prescription Drugs 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMS delays reporting deadline for physician labs The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that it will delay the deadline for physician office-based laboratories to meet new reporting requirements. Qualified laboratories now have until May 30, 2017, to complete reporting of private payor payment data for clinical testing services, as required by the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA). Under PAMA, laboratories that meet revenue thresholds are required to report private payor payment rates and associated volumes for tests they perform that are paid on the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS). CMS said it ... April 19, 2017 General Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Clinical Laboratories, CMS, Medicare, Regulatory Advocacy 0 0 Comment Read More »
