The QPP Quest
Volume 1 | January 2018
Welcome to the First Edition of the
QPP Quest!

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

This monthly news digest, brought to you by
Health Services Advisory Group (HSAG), provides
MIPS (Merit-based Incentive Payment System)
reporting tools and resources to help you transition
from MIPS to an APM (Alternative Payment Model).
It provides what you need to know now to prepare and successfully participate in the QPP. 

In this issue, we highlight changes to the MIPS Final Rule for 2018, upcoming QPP-related events, opportunities to share best practices and QPP success stories, cross-task efforts to improve behavioral health screenings and immunization rates, and more.
Health Services Advisory Group
Visit the QPP Service Center
Visit the HSAG Events Calendar
View and Download Resources
MIPS and APM Tools and Resources
Curious to See What
Your MIPS Score May Be?
 Find out with the Stratis Health 2017 MIPS Estimator. The no-cost Stratis Health MIPS Estimator will help you monitor your MIPS performance across all performance categories.

Find out more here .
Learn More About
  What to Report
You can learn more about the MIPS participation requirements in the MIPS Participation Fact Sheet and in the What to Report section of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) QPP website.

Find out more at qpp.cms.gov . 
HSAG QPP Service Center
HSAG's QPP Service Center is your one-stop resource for assistance with QPP information. Register for services, find helpful tools, or reach out for assistance.

See what the Service Center offers here .
Instructional MIPS and APM Videos 
CMS provides videos that range in length from 3–10 minutes on QPP-related topics. The videos are designed to assist those new to QPP, as well as more experienced QPP professionals.

View the CMS QPP training videos here .
Coming Soon! Submission Portal Pointers
The MIPS Data Submission Portal is Open!
The MIPS Data Submission Portal is now open. Please review the CMS Guide for Obtaining an Enterprise Identity Management (EIDM) Account and ‘Physician Quality and Value Programs’ Role for Quality Payment Program (QPP) Submissions to learn what to do to prepare for submission. 
Upcoming Learning Forum Friday Events
Friday, January 12, 2018
12 Noon ET
3 p.m. ET
What's New for QPP in 2018?
Join HSAG to review the changes in MIPS for calendar year 2018.
Friday, February 9, 2018
1 p.m. ET
Let the 50-Day Countdown Begin!
Join HSAG to learn about how to navigate the attestation process.
News & Networking
QPP Chronicles
Tell us about a QPP best practice or newsworthy story you would like to share with the HSAG Learning Forum Friday community by completing the "Contact Us" form.

Your QPP experience can help other practices prepare and participate in the QPP. What you share makes a difference. 
Upcoming Web Event from IMPAQ,
the SURS National Coordinating Center
MIPS Data Submission: Practical Advice for Small Group Practices
and Solo Practitioners

Register Now!

This event will focus on step-by-step processes for submitting your Improvement Activity and other attestation data to CMS. It will feature a panel of experts who are familiar with the range of data submission options available to small group practices and individual clinicians and who will be available for questions and live dialogue regarding your submission challenges.
Quality Initiative Spotlight
 Did you know that CMS compensates physician practices for screening of depression and alcohol misuse disorder? These screenings can also be used as two medium-weighted Improvement Activities in the MIPS program, giving solo and small group providers the points needed to earn the full 15% for that performance category!

CMS Announcements

MIPS Highlights for 2018—The Final Rule
As part of the proposed 2018 Final Rule, the MIPS Program will maintain many of
the transition year policies with some minor changes. Read about those changes at:

QPP Listserv
Don’t forget to sign up for the QPP listserv available on the CMS.gov QPP website . Once you have 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 tool, especially now that the submission period has opened. 
Join HSAG's QPP Listserv
Stay informed about all QPP updates, webinars and best practices by joining the
HSAG QPP ListServ! Invite your colleagues and other medical staff to join, as well!
To join, email HSAGQPPSupport@hsag.com . In the subject line, enter “Join HSAG QPP Listserv.” 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!
Health Services Advisory Group