Volume 2 Ed. 1 | January 2019
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The MIPS 2018 Data Submission Period is Now Open
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has officially opened the data submission period for Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligible clinicians who participated in Year 2 (2018) of the Quality Payment Program (QPP). With the exceptions noted in the paragraph below, data can be submitted and updated any time from now until April 2, 2019, at 8 p.m. ET.
Please note, CMS Web Interface users need to report their Quality performance category data between January 22 and March 22, 2019. Also, for clinicians who reported Quality measures via Medicare Part B claims throughout the 2018 performance year, CMS receives your quality data from claims processed by your Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) and claims for services furnished during 2018 must be processed within 60 days after the end of the 2018 performance period.
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QPP Participation Status Tool Now Includes Third Snapshot of 2018 Qualifying APM Participant and MIPS APMs Data
CMS updated its
Quality Payment Program Participation Status Tool
based on calculations from the third snapshot of data from Alternative Payment Model (APM) entities. The third snapshot includes data from Medicare Part B claims with dates of service between January 1 and August 31, 2018. As a reminder, the tool includes 2018 APM Qualifying Participant (QP) and MIPS APM status.
For those in the Medicare Shared Savings Program, a fourth snapshot date, December 31, will apply to you. It’s used for determining which eligible clinicians are participating in a MIPS APM for purposes of the APM scoring standard.
Note:
If you are in participating in a MIPS APM and do not qualify as a QP or Partial QP, you will most likely need to participate in
MIPS
, but will be subject to the APM Scoring Standard.
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New 2019 QPP Resources Available on QPP.CMS.GOV
To help you prepare for the 2019 performance year of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), CMS has posted the following new resources to the
Quality Payment Program Resource Library
:
Check out these valuable resources and many more
here
!
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Submission Portal Pointers
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Top Three Tips for MIPS Data Submission
Tip #1
Take
screenshots
after you have entered your data into the QPP Data Submission Portal or click the “Print” button at the top of your Reporting Overview as there is no "Save" or "Submit" button once you have entered your data. Whatever is in the portal at the close of the submission window on April 2, 2019, at 8 p.m. ET is what CMS will use to calculate your score. Be sure to safeguard your tax identification numbers (TINs) in your screenshots
Tip #2
Submit early, don’t wait! If you have already submitted your data, log back in to check for any score adjustments that may have been made based on previously unprocessed claims or any third-party vendors that may have submitted data on your behalf.
Tip #3
If you are part of an APM, like an Accountable Care Organization (ACO), please confirm with your ACO that they have uploaded the Quality MIPS data on your behalf. Don’t forget you are required to submit your own data in the Promoting Interoperability (PI) category unless otherwise specified by your ACO.
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QPP Frequently Asked Question of the Month
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Question:
What is a HARP account and why do I need it?
Answer:
CMS transitioned the system used to create identity management accounts and request access to the
QPP website
from the Enterprise Identity Data Management System (EIDM) to the HCQIS Access Roles and Profile System (HARP) on December 19, 2018, to streamline systems to better serve you.
I
f you already have an EIDM account with a role for QPP, you’ll automatically be transitioned to HARP. You don’t need to take any additional action.
You’ll use your existing EIDM user ID and password to sign in to the QPP website, and you’ll have access to the same organization(s), be able to submit QPP data, manage access, view current scores, or look at your 2017 MIPS feedback reports.
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HSAG QPP Service Center Feedback
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Here's what your peers are saying about HSAG's technical assistance and educational support...
- This lifeline for MIPS is priceless!
- Any time I call for help your staff is fantastic. Thanks!
- So helpful. Answered all my questions. Provided information I didn’t know I needed. I really appreciate your service!
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Upcoming Learning Forum Friday Events
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February 8, 2019
1
p.m. ET
Quality and Cost Deep Dive
Join HSAG to learn how to:
- Explain the Quality and Cost performance categories reporting requirements.
- Interpret Quality and Cost scoring methodologies.
- Identify Quality and Cost measures and how they impact your MIPS final score.
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March 8, 2019
1 p.m. ET
First Base: What’s New in QPP for Year 3
Join HSAG to learn how to:
- Identify key 2019 QPP Final Rule highlights.
- Recognize strategies to meet the 2019 QPP requirements.
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Did You Miss the January 11 Learning Forum Friday Webinar?
Download the
webinar recording
for
QPP Y2 – Data Submission Tips and Tricks
. The presentation slides are also located at
www.hsag.com/lff
. Register for upcoming webinars and browse past webinars to prepare for your 2018 MIPS data submission!
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Upcoming Webinars for Small Practices
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Submitting Your 2018 MIPS Data: Advice for Solo and Small Group Practices
Participants will learn:
- How to submit MIPS data directly to CMS.
- Methods to submit data for each performance category.
- Strategies for choosing which data to submit to help you earn the highest MIPS score.
- What an HARP account is.
- Practical tips for addressing frequent challenges encountered by solo practitioners and small group practices including understanding how to submit data or retain documentation.
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Updates
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Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Policy for MIPS Eligible Clinicians Affected by Hurricanes Florence and Michael
CMS understands that if you’re a clinician living or practicing in an area affected by Hurricanes Florence and Hurricane Michael, you may experience difficulties collecting and submitting data on time during the 2018 MIPS performance period for MIPS. Most recently, for those affected by
Hurricane Florence
,
Hurricane Michael
, and the
California Wildfires.
CMS tried to lessen eligible clinicians’ burden by not requiring a hardship application to re-weight the performance categories under MIPS.
Please note: MIPS eligible clinicians in APM entities who are subject to the APM scoring standard are not covered by the automatic extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy.
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Medicare Learning Network (MLN) Updates
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Opioid Training Modules
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched two new opioid trainings that support providers in safer prescribing of opioids for chronic pain. The modules are part of a series of interactive online trainings that feature recommendations from the
CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
, clinical scenarios, tools, and resource libraries to enhance learning. The modules offer free continuing education:
MIPS TIPS:
Quality Measures
- Opioid Therapy Follow-up Evaluation (Quality ID: 408)
- Documentation of Signed Opioid Treatment Agreement (Quality ID: 412)
Improvement Activities
- CDC Training on CDC’s Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain (ID: IA_PSPA_22)
- Use of CDC Guideline for Clinical Support to Prescribe opioids for Chronic Pain Via Clinical Decision Support (ID: IA_PSPA_32)
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New Medicare Card: Transition Period Ends December 31, 2019
T
o ensure your Medicare patients continue to get care, you can use either the former Social Security number-based Health Insurance Claim Number or the new alpha-numeric Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) for all Medicare transactions through December 31, 2019.
Beginning January 1, 2020, you must use the MBI on all Medicare transactions with a
few exceptions
. MBIs are random and use numbers 0–9 and uppercase letters, except for S, L, O, I, B, and Z. CMS excludes these letters to avoid confusion when differentiating between these letters and numbers (e.g., between “0” and “O”). Read the MLN Matters® article,
New MBI Get It, Use It,
for helpful information, including what to do if an MBI changes.
If your patients accidentally threw away their new Medicare card, ask them to call 1.800.MEDICARE and request a replacement. Your patients can also sign into
MyMedicare.gov
to print an official card. They must create an account if they do not already have one.
For More Information:
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February is American Heart Month
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Every year, one in four deaths are caused by heart disease.
The good news? Heart disease can often be prevented when people make healthy choices and manage their health conditions. Communities, health professionals, and families can work together to create opportunities for people to make healthier choices.
MIPS TIPS:
Quality Measures:
- Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Antiplatelet Therapy (Quality ID #5)
- Controlling Hight Blood Pressure (Quality ID# 236)
- Preventive Care and Screening: Screening for High Blood Pressure and Follow-up Documented (Quality ID: 317)
- Functional Status Assessment for Congestive Heart Failure (Quality ID #377)
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New QPP Tools and Resources
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Subscribe to Get the Information You Need
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Subscribe to HSAG's QPP Quest Digest
Invite your practice staff, practices you refer patients to, and other colleagues to subscribe to HSAG’s QPP Quest Digest!
Stay informed of all monthly QPP updates, deadlines, no-cost webinars and best practices by subscribing
here
.
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CMS QPP Listserv
Don't forget to sign up on the
CMS.gov QPP website
. Once you've accessed the QPP page, scroll to
[Subscribe to Updates]
at the bottom of the page and insert your email address before clicking
[Subscribe]
. The QPP listserv is a valuable resource to stay informed of webinars and important QPP deadlines.
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This material was prepared by Health Services Advisory Group, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Florida, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents presented do not necessarily reflect CMS policy. Publication No. QN-11SOW-D.1-01252019-01
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