The QPP Quest
Volume 1 Edition 3 | March 2018
Welcome to the QPP Quest!

Your knowledge hub during the
Quality Payment Program (QPP) journey.

The QPP Quest, brought to you by
Health Services Advisory Group (HSAG),
provides what you need to know now to prepare
and successfully participate in the QPP.


In this issue, we highlight submission deadlines, tips for Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) submission, important updates from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) and the Medicare Learning Network (MLN), a MIPS submission success story, and helpful tools and resources.
Only 25 Days Remaining
for MIPS Data Submission
Don't wait until the last minute to submit your data!
Do you:
  • Know that the data submission deadline is only 24 days away?
  • Have an Enterprise identity Management (EIDM)System account?

If you answered no to either of those questions, you may n eed some help.

T here are two key dates to remember:
  • Deadline for Group reporting via the CMS web interface is March 16 at 8 p.m. ET.
  • Deadline for all other MIPS reporting is March 31, excluding claims-based quality reporting.

The MIPS Data Submission Deadline is March 31!
Submission Portal Pointers
Top Three Tips for MIPS Data Submission
  1. Don’t forget to take screen shots after you have entered your data.
  2. There is no “Save” or “Submit” button once you have entered your data. Whatever is there at the close of the submission window on March 31 is what CMS will use. You still have the opportunity to make changes up until March 31.
  3. 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.

Upcoming Learning Forum Friday Events
Friday, March 9, 2018
1 p.m. ET
22 Days 'til MIPS Data Submission! Get Ready!
Learn troubleshooting strategies for your 2017 MIPS data submission.

Friday, April 13, 2018
1 p.m. ET
Spring Into Action Using Your First Quarter Data
Focus on choosing the best measures and define problem areas that may need improvement.
Here's What Your Peers are Saying About Learning Forum Fridays:

Date range for MIPS submission can be different for the 3 categories!! This will help
our practice greatly!!

Very knowledgeable presenters, truly appreciate all the information provided.
Thank you!

Well organized webinar with vast opportunity to ask questions.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Webinars and Updates
CMS Announcements

Patients Over Paperwork
Click here to learn more about Patients over Paperwork.

Ensure that you receive the monthly Patients Over paperwork newsletter and other Patients over Paperwork updates by joining the Listserv . You may also review past newsletter editions here .
Updates to the 2017 Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Policy for MIPS Clinicians    
CMS has updated its   Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances policy   for the MIPS transition year to include counties affected by Hurricane Nate and additional counties affected by the California  wildfires .
 
To learn more about the policy and all the designated areas for the 2017 transition year, view the   interim final rule with comment period   and the   Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Policy for MIPS in 2017 Fact Sheet.
Thursday, March 8, 2018
12:30 p.m. CT
QPP: Data Submission 2
Hear an overview on MIPS submission.
New Video: MIPS Claims Based Quality Measures Projections and Results
View this new feature that will allow a user from a small group who submits their Quality Measures for the purposes of Merit-Based Incentive Program (MIPS) using the claims based submission method to log in and view their monthly calculation of those claim based measures. 
Advancing Care Information (ACI) Bonus Available
Practices may qualify for an additional bonus for ACI information w hen they use certified electronic health record technology (CEHRT) for an eligible improvement activity (IA). The bonus would be 10% bonus of a clinician's ACI score. To verify eligibility for this bonus, clinicians submitting ACI using a quality reporting document architecture (QRDA) file should confirm with their vendors that the identifier, ACI_IACEHRT_1, is set to “yes.” An update to the 2018 CMS QRDA III implementation guide (IG) will be published to reflect the addition of this identifier.

View additional QRDA-related resources, as well as current and past implementation guides, on the eCQI Resource Center and the CMS eCQM Library . For questions related to the QRDA Implementation Guides and/or Schematrons, visit the ONC QRDA JIRA Issue Tracker
Upcoming Webinars for Small Practices
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
 11 a.m. ET
How to Prepare for MIPS Cost Sharing
Practical Advice for Solo Practitioners and Small Group Practices
Learn how cost scores are calculated, how much they will impact overall MIPS scores, and how you can identify and adapt in areas that are impacting your cost score the most.
Thursday, March 22, 2018
 7 p.m. ET
How to Prepare for MIPS Cost Sharing
Practical Advice for Solo Practitioners and Small Group Practices
Learn how cost scores are calculated, how much they will impact overall MIPS scores, and how you can identify and adapt in areas that are impacting your cost score the most.
Medicare Learning Network (MLN) Updates
2018 Value Modifier Results and Payment Adjustment Factor  
CMS announced the results of the 2018 Value Modifier and the adjustment factor that will be applied to clinicians receiving an upward payment adjustment. In 2018, over 20,000 clinicians will receive an increase of 6.6% to 19.9% on their Medicare physician fee schedule payments because of their high performance on quality and cost measures in 2016.
 
Find out more at  MLN Connects .
Wednesday, March 21
2:30 to 3:00 p.m. ET
E/M Services: Documentation Guidelines and Burden Reduction Listening Session
Reducing provider burden is a top priority in the QPP! CMS is also looking for physicians and non-physician practitioners to provide feedback on Evaluation and Management (E/M) services. CMS seeks comments from stakeholders on potential updates to the E/M guidelines to reduce burden and better align coding and documentation with the current practice of medicine. This listening session follows CY 2018 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rulemaking and is part of an ongoing effort to seek input from stakeholders on these topics. 
News and Networking
HSAG QPP Chronicles
"Chronicled" win! One of HSAG's QPP Service Center staff recently provided QPP assistance to a practice via our telephone assistance line. Using the MIPS Estimator, they compared provider performance from September 2017 to December 2017 and found that the provider's score had improved significantly, from 62 to 86 points! What's the takeaway from this? Working with HSAG's QPP Service Center staff to focus on identified areas for improvement and then applying suggested strategies and best practices works!

Tell us about a QPP best practice or newsworthy story you would like to share with the HSAG Learning Forum Friday community by clicking on the [ Share a Best Practice ] icon to the right and completing the "Contact Us" form.

Your QPP experience can help other practices prepare and participate in the QPP. What you share makes a difference. 
Quality Initiative Spotlight
Apply to be a 2018 Hypertension Control Champion
Did you know Controlling High Blood Pressure is a MIPS Quality Measure and participating
in Million Hearts® is an Improvement Activity? If you plan on reporting these MIPS measures, share how you and your team control blood pressure in your patient population. 

T he Hypertension Control hallenge is open through April 6, and your entry can be made online through a simple application. Find out more here.
HSAG QPP Service Center Feedback
Here's what your peers are saying about HSAG's technical assistance and educational support...

  • I am very thankful to have this service available to providers. Every time I have contacted Customer Service they have been very knowledgeable and very helpful. Thank you very much! 

  • I just love that I can to speak to a human being rather than an answering machine and the hold time has been minimal each time I have called. The representatives all seem very educated and willing to assist.

  • Professional, knowledgeable and friendly. Helped relieve some of the MIPS reporting anxiety! 
QPP Tools and Resources
Subscribe to Get the Information You Need
Join HSAG's QPP Community Mailing List
Stay informed about all QPP updates, webinars and best practices by joining the
HSAG QPP Community Mailing List! Invite your colleagues and other medical staff to join, as well! To join, email HSAGQPPSupport@hsag.com . In the subject line, enter “Join the HSAG QPP Community Mailing List.” Please include your organization name, your first and last name, email address, city, and state in your email.
 
It’s important to be aware of all quality improvement and QPP reporting resources as
we navigate this new healthcare system driven by high-quality care at a low cost!
 HSAG is pleased to support you in your QPP journey!
CMS QPP Listserv
Don't forget to sign up on the  C MS.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, especially now that the submission period has opened.