CMS Expands Reporting Options for QPP | Practice Fusion

Andy Slavitt, the Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), recently published a detailed blog postoutlining the reporting options available to providers participating in the Quality Payment Program (QPP)](/value-based-reimbursement/), which is scheduled to start in 2017.

As described in the post, these options are designed to introduce flexibility and help providers transition to the Merit Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs) from existing programs, such as Meaningful Use, at their own pace.

The reporting options can be summarized as follows:

1. Avoid a negative payment adjustment by submitting some data on or after January 1, 2017 in accordance with the MIPS reporting requirements.
2. Possibly earn a small positive adjustment (up to 4%) on Medicare Part B payments by submitting data from part of the 2017 year in accordance with the MIPS reporting requirements.
3. Possibly earn a larger positive adjustment (up to 4%) on Medicare Part B payments in 2019 by submitting data for the full 2017 year in accordance with the MIPS reporting requirements.
4. Qualify to receive a 5% positive adjustment on Medicare Part B payments by participating in an advanced APM. This includes Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+), which Practice Fusion supports.

Practice Fusion is supportive of CMS offering significantly more flexibility in reporting than previously suggested in the proposed rule on QPP. Industry surveys and feedback from our provider community reflect a fair amount of confusion about the QPP and concern about the complexity of the program. Practice Fusion providers have an excellent opportunity to earn the highest level of incentives available in the QPP if they are eligible and choose to participate in CPC+. If you are unable to make that level of commitment, it’s important to note that any level of participation in QPP during 2017 will prevent negative payment adjustments in 2019.

The details of the QPP is anticipated to be finalized by early November. Along with other industry leaders, Practice Fusion has asked CMS to simplify requirements and keep them intuitive and focused on improving patient care. Regardless of how the program evolves, Practice Fusion is committed to helping you navigate these changes by providing an EHR platform that enables small practices to excel in a value-based world.