Vol. 4 Ed.6 | June 24, 2021 |
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- What You Need to Know
- CMS Quality Payment Program (QPP) Resource Library Updates
- QPP Key Deadlines and Reminders
- Events and Education
- Frequently Asked Questions of the Month
- News and Networking
- Health Observances/Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Tips for July
- CMS QPP Human-Centered Design Research Program
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What You Need to Know This Month |
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2019 Quality Payment Program (QPP) Performance Information Now Available on Care Compare
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2021 Quality Benchmarks File
CMS is committed to transparency, data integrity, and open communication with its stakeholders. Through its ongoing quality assurance efforts, CMS identified and corrected an error with the decile outputs affecting the 2021 historical quality measure benchmarks file. This issue affected every measure in the benchmarks file. As a result of the correction, the range of performance rates for a given decile have shifted down one decile.
For Questions
Contact the Quality Payment Program at 1.866.288.8292 or by email at QPP@cms.hhs.gov (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET).
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2021 Measure Development Plan Annual Report
CMS posted the 2021 Quality Measure Development Plan (MDP) Annual Report, which describes progress in developing clinician quality measures to support the Quality Payment Program (QPP). The CMS Quality MDP is a focused framework for developing these measures, pointing out the known measurement and performance gaps, and recommending prioritized approaches to close those gaps. For more information about the 2021 MDP Annual Report, go to the QPP measure development page.
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Register for the CMS Web Interface and CAHPS® for MIPS Survey Reporting for the 2021 Quality Performance Period by June 30, 2021
For the 2021 performance period, registration is required for groups, virtual groups, and Alternative Payment Model (APM) entities that intend to submit data for the quality performance category via the CMS Web Interface and/or administer the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems® (CAHPS®) for the MIPS Survey.
For More Information
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CMS QPP Resource Library Updates |
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To prepare for the 2020 MIPS data submission and beginning of the 2021 MIPS performance year, CMS has posted new resources to the QPP Resource Library. HSAG has also gathered these resources at the HSAG QPP Service Center's Tools and Resources page.
2021 QPP Resources
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QPP Key Deadlines and Reminders |
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QPP Exception applications window opens—Deadline: December 31, 2021
- Targeted Review Period Opens for 2020 MIPS Performance Year
- Performance Year 2020 Final Feedback
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Reporting Electronic Clinical Quality Measures Using the FHIR® Standard*
Thursday, July 1, 2021 at 1–2 p.m. ET
* This webinar, will be a technical, advanced-level session for health information.
FHIR® = Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources®
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Driving Quality in the U.S.:
How CMS Evaluates Its Measure Portfolio*
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Tuesday, July 13, 2021 at 1–2 p.m. ET |
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Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at 3–4 p.m. ET |
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Strategies for Improving Medication Adherence in Chronic Disease Management |
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Medication adherence satisfies several MIPS quality measures and has the potential to strengthen the patient engagement experience. Join this webinar to hear strategies to improve medication adherence in chronic disease management, which is essential to attain several CMS targeted goals for the specific 2021 MIPS quality measures. |
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Thursday, July 15, 2021 at 3–4 p.m. ET
Event password (case-sensitive): Medication2021!
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Frequently Asked Questions of the Month |
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Question: What is improvement scoring and how is it calculated?
Answer: Improvement scoring is where practices can earn up to 10 percentage points based on the rate of their improvement in the quality performance category from the previous performance year. It is calculated by comparing the quality achievement percentage score from the previous (2020) performance year to the quality performance category achievement percentage score for the current (2021) performance year.
Question: What if a quality measure does not have a historical benchmark?
Answer: If a quality measure or collection type does not have a historical benchmark, CMS will attempt to calculate benchmarks based on data submitted for the 2021 performance period.
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2021 HSAG MIPS Annual Check-in
Each year, Health Services Advisory Group (HSAG) checks in with every eligible clinician and practice to ensure their plans for MIPS reporting are on track. You may receive phone calls, emails, and or fax communication from HSAG throughout the year. HSAG's goal is to ensure you are prepared to submit your best MIPS score. The team of QPP subject matter experts are excited to connect with you and learn more about your MIPS reporting plans this year. If your practice knows your MIPS reporting plans for 2021 now, click here to let HSAG know. By submitting your MIPS participation plans online, HSAG will not reach out via phone, and you can contact HSAG when you need to!
HSAG is 1 of 11 organizations awarded by CMS as a QPP Technical Assistance Support Contractor. Since 2017, HSAG has been your trusted resource, available to Medicare providers in Arizona, California, Hawaii, New Mexico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Also, in partnership with Alliant Quality, HSAG is Florida’s technical assistance contractor for the QPP. HSAG provides assistance on MIPS and Alternative Payment Models (APMs); two reporting paths under the QPP. Its services are provided at no cost to you.
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Health Observances/MIPS Tips for July
UV = Ultra violet light
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CMS QPP Human-Centered Design Research Program
Would you like to share your feedback on an existing design, new concept, or interactive prototype for the CMS QPP website and potentially earn Improvement Activities credit? For more information and to join the user research program, please visit the QPP HCD page on the CMS QPP website.
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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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