Vol. 4 Ed.7 | July 29, 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 August
- CMS QPP Human-Centered Design Research Program
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What You Need to Know This Month |
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CMS Publishes Policy Changes for Quality Payment Program in 2022 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Proposed Rule
The following are some of the key QPP policies that have been proposed in the Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM):
- MIPS Value Pathways (MVPs) begin in 2023 with 7 options for the first year
- The CMS Web Interface extends as a collection type and submission type for quality measure reporting into the 2022 and 2023 performance years for Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) (for other ACOs and registered groups and virtual groups the CMS Web Interface continues for the 2022 performance period only)
- Updates to Cost measures and Improvement Activities inventory
- Revisions to Promoting Interoperability performance category reporting requirements
To be assured consideration, comments must be received at one of the addresses
provided below, no later than 5 p.m. on September 13, 2021. You must officially submit your comments in one of the following ways:
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Electronically, through regulations.gov
- Regular mail
- Express or overnight mail
- Hand or courier delivery
For More Information
Learn more about the 2022 PFS NPRM and the QPP proposals by reviewing the following resources:
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CMS Seeking Comments on Proposed Measure Specification
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Now Available: 2021 APM Incentive Payment Details
CMS has published the 2021 Alternative Payment Model (APM) Incentive Payment details on the QPP website. To access this information, clinicians, and surrogates can now log in to the QPP website using their HARP credentials.
HARP = Health Care Quality Information Systems (HCQIS) Access Roles and Profile
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CMS Approves Suppressing Quality ID 001: Diabetes: Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) Poor Control (>9%) and Quality ID 117: Diabetes: Eye Exam Medicare Part B Claims submissions for the 2021 Performance Period
CMS will suppress the Medicare Part B claims-based submission of the following measures for the 2021 performance period:
- Quality ID 001: Diabetes: Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) Poor Control (>9%)
- Quality ID 117: Diabetes: Eye Exam
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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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- 2020 MIPS Final Scores anticipated to be released.
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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 3rd)
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View the following You Tube on-demand 2021 QPP CMS webinars:
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Frequently Asked Questions of the Month |
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Question: What Do I Need to Do in Order to Receive the APM Incentive Payment?
Answer: If you participate in MIPS via the APM pathway, you will not need to do anything to receive your payment, unless CMS is unable to verify your Medicare billing information. If you do not receive your payment, you should find your name on this public notice, which indicates that you will need to verify your Medicare billing information. If you do not verify your Medicare billing information by November 1, 2021, then CMS will not be able to issue your APM Incentive Payment. For instructions on how to verify your Medicare billing information, review the public notice.
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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 August
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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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