Vol. 4 Ed.9 | September 30, 2021 |
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- What You Need to Know
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (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 October
- CMS QPP Human-Centered Design Research Program
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What You Need to Know This Month |
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CMS Updates 2020 MIPS Performance Feedback and 2022 MIPS Payment Adjustments May Be Affected
Recently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released performance feedback for clinicians included in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) for the 2020 performance year (PY). Along with releasing performance feedback, the targeted review period was opened. A targeted review provides the opportunity for clinicians, groups, virtual groups or those participating in certain Alternative Payment Models (APMs) to request review of their MIPS payment adjustment factor(s), if they believe there is an error with their final score and associated MIPS payment adjustment. The targeted review requests received through PY 2020 targeted review process caused CMS to take a closer look at a couple of prevailing concerns.
Below are updates released by CMS related to targeted review concerns expressed by eligible clinicians:
- Complex Correction for Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs
- Patient-Reported Outcome Measure Correction
- Patient Bonus Impact to MIPS Payment Adjustments
- Additional Adjustment for Exceptional Performance
- Targeted Review Extension
Take Action Now:
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MIPS PY 2020 Performance Category Reweighting & EUC Deadline Reopens
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact all clinicians across the United States and its territories, and CMS recognizes that not everyone may have been able to submit an Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances (EUC) Exception Application for performance year (PY) 2020 before the March 31, 2021 deadline. As part of its ongoing support for clinicians who are on the front lines of this public health emergency (PHE), CMS is allowing clinicians, groups, virtual groups, and Alternative Payment Model (APM) Entities to request MIPS performance category reweighting for PY 2020 under the CMS EUC policy now through November 29, 2021 at 8 p.m. ET.
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QPP Will No Longer Support Internet Explorer 11 Browser
Microsoft is ending support for the Internet Explorer (IE) 11 browser in June 2022. As a result, this browser will not be up to date with the latest security updates. Due to these security concerns, as of October 13, 2021 users will not be able to access the QPP website, qpp.cms.gov using the IE 11 browser.
What Does This Mean for Me?
A very small percentage of users (2%) access qpp.cms.gov, through an IE 11 browser. By discontinuing support, CMS will be able to improve security and the user experience for the 98% of users who access our website through other browsers. The QPP website will continue to support modern browsers such as Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge.
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MIPS Facility-Based Scoring Is Not Available for Performance Year (PY) 2021
In response to the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), CMS finalized a special scoring policy for fiscal year (FY) 2022 that will not calculate a total performance score for any hospital for FY 2022.
What does this mean for MIPS reporting?
Facility-based clinicians and groups will need to submit data on MIPS quality measures to receive a score other than zero for the quality performance category.
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Facility-based clinicians and groups without available and applicable measures can request performance category reweighting by submitting an Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances (EUC) application.
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Please be sure to cite “COVID-19” as the triggering event, as the decision to suppress measures in the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program was in response to the COVID-19 PHE.
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CMS also updated the 2021 Facility-Based Quick Start Guide (PDF) to reflect this information.
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CMS is offering additional resources surrounding the Alternative Payment Model (APM) Performance Pathway, or the APP— a new reporting and scoring pathway for MIPS-eligible clinicians who participate in MIPS APMs.
What is the APP?
The APP is complementary to the MIPS Value Pathways (MVPs) and includes a single, pre-determined measure set that MIPS APM participants may report on at the individual, group, and/or APM-Entity levels beginning with the 2021 performance year.
What are the benefits of reporting through the APP?
The APP is designed to provide reliable and consistent MIPS-reporting requirements to reduce reporting burden and encourage continued APM participation.
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CMS QPP Resource Library Updates |
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ICD-10 = International Classification of Diseases; QP = Qualifying Participant
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QPP Key Deadlines and Reminders |
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QP Determinations and MIPS APM Participation Information Available on the QPP Participation Status Tool (June 30 APM Snapshot date).
- Last Day to Start a 90-day Performance Period for Promoting Interoperability and Improvement Activities (October 3)
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Targeted Review closes on November 29, 2021.
View the following resource to assist in planning for 2021 MIPS reporting:
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QPP APM Incentive Payment Details for QPs to Receive Payment
Thursday, September 30, at 2–3 p.m. ET
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View the following YouTube on-demand 2021 QPP CMS webinar:
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Frequently Asked Questions of the Month |
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Question: We haven’t started our Improvement Activities yet; what can we do?
Answer: The deadline to start your 2021 Improvement Activities (IA) is October 3, 2021. You can review the available activities on the QPP website: qpp.cms.gov. As a reminder, clinicians and groups with the special status of Small Practice only need to complete 1 high-weighted IA or 2 medium-weighted IAs for at least 90 consecutive days in the performance year. Please call or email HSAG at 844.472.4227 or HSAGQPPSupport@hsag.com and the HSAG team will be happy to assist you in reviewing applicable IAs for you or your practice.
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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 October
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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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