CMS completes issuance of new Medicare ID cards The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has now completed the process of mailing new Medicare cards to beneficiaries across all states and territories. The new Medicare ID cards, required under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), contain a unique, randomly assigned Medicare Beneficiary Identification (MBI) number, which replaces the previous Social Security-based number. CMS also reports that for the week ending January 11, 2019, fee-for-service health care providers submitted 58 percent of claims with the new MBIs. CMS is allowing a 21-month transition period (which ... January 22, 2019 Medicare MACRA, Practice Management, Public Payors 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMS identifies and corrects errors in MIPS scoring logic Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released 2017 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) performance scores and payment adjustment information for the 2019 payment year. Physicians have been able to request targeted reviews if they believe an error was made in the calculation of their performance score. The requests CMS received through targeted reviews led them to take a closer look at a few prevailing concerns. Those concerns included the application of the 2017 Advancing Care Information and Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances hardship exceptions, the awarding of Improvement Activity ... September 14, 2018 Medicare MACRA, Practice Management 0 0 Comment Read More »
CalHIPSO Webinar: MIPS Reporting for 2018 The Health Services Advisory Group and the California Health Information Partnership & Services Organization (CalHIPSO) is hosting a free educational webinar on Thursday, October 4, 2018, on the Medicare Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). This webinar will cover what you and your practice need to know as you look forward to MIPS reporting for the 2018 performance year. There are many factors to consider that effect your scores. The 2018 reporting year is very similar to 2017, with slightly higher thresholds and benchmarks. The webinar will explore various scenarios and ... September 14, 2018 Medicare MACRA, Practice Management, Professional Development & Education 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA/AMA responding to proposed Medicare payment rule On July 12, 2018, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the proposed 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and MACRA Quality Payment Program (QPP) rule. This is the first year that CMS is combining the Medicare fee schedule and QPP rules. There are a number of positive elements in the proposed rule. These include: New payments for physician services that are not part of a face to face office visit (virtual check-ins, remote consults of patient videos and photographs, and online consultations with other physicians) ... August 7, 2018 CMA, Medicare Advocacy, MACRA, Public Payors 0 0 Comment Read More »
2017 MIPS performance scores and 2019 payment adjustments now available Physicians can now log in to the Medicare Quality Payment Program (QPP) website to view their final 2017 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) performance scores and payment adjustment information for the 2019 payment year. It is important to note the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will not be sending out letters this year, so physicians are encouraged to log into the QPP website to learn about any payment adjustments they will receive in 2019. Physicians should be aware that the MIPS payment adjustment is required to be budget neutral. That means ... July 23, 2018 Medicare MACRA, Public Health 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 announces new voluntary bundled payment model The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a new voluntary bundled-payment model. Called the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) Advanced Model, it will be considered an advanced alternative payment model (APM) under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). This new, voluntary model comes less than two months after the CMS eliminated two mandatory bundled-payment models created during the Obama administration. MACRA’s Quality Payment Program (QPP) created two tracks for physician payment – the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Advanced APM track. Under ... January 30, 2018 Managed Care, Medicare Alternative Payment Models (APM), MACRA, Medicare, Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 0 0 Comment Read More »
MACRA 90-day reporting deadline approaching Beginning with the 2017 reporting year, eligible physicians who do not participate in the Medicare Quality Payment Program (QPP) will see a negative 4 percent payment adjustment in 2019. QPP is the new physician payment system created by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) and administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). During the 2017 transition year, CMS will allow physicians to select one of three “pick your pace” participation options. Participating at any level in 2017 will ensure that you will not be hit ... September 27, 2017 Medicare CalHIPSO, MACRA, Medicare, Medicare Quality Payment Program (QPP), Webinars 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA urges CMS to further reduce MACRA administrative burdens The California Medical Association (CMA) recently submitted comments on proposed 2018 changes to the Medicare Quality Payment Program (QPP), established by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). Though not perfect, CMA is pleased that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has listened to physician feedback and has made changes that will significantly reduce the administrative burdens on physicians, particularly for small and rural practices. We appreciate the agency’s responsiveness to many of our concerns about the ability of physicians to successfully participate in the ... September 25, 2017 CMA, EHR, Managed Care CalHIPSO, MACRA, Medicare, Medicare Quality Payment Program, QPP, Webinars 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 »
