Make Your Voice Heard: 2019 Medicare Quality Payment Program

Make Your Voice Heard: 2019 Medicare Quality Payment Program

July 26th, 2018 | Network News

CMS has released the Proposed Rule for 2019 Medicare Quality Payment Program, and the comment period will be open until September 10, 2018. Practices are encouraged to review the proposed rule and provide feedback to ensure that the perspective and needs of your practice are represented.

Some of the key proposals for Year 3 of the Quality Payment Program include:

  • There will be an expansion of the definition of eligible providers that will include physical and occupational therapists, clinical social workers and clinical psychologists.
  • Number of Covered Professional Services will be added to the low-volume threshold determination as a third element. Eligible professionals that meet one or two, but not all three of the low-volume elements may opt-in and participate in MIPS.
  • An option will be provided to use facility-based scoring for facility-based physicians that does not require data submission.
  • Modifying the category of Promoting Interoperability (formerly Advancing Care Information) to support more EHR interoperability and patient access and to align more closely with the proposed rule for hospitals for this element. There will also be a smaller set of objectives and measures in this category, and scoring will be based on performance.
  • The small practice bonus will be continued, but will be included in the Quality performance instead of as a standalone bonus.

 

Comments must be submitted by September 10, 2018, and may be submitted here.

If you are interested in additional information you may find a fact sheet here or contact Practice Facilitator Linda Franke.