CMS announces slower pace for 2017 requirements.
In case you haven’t heard, a large piece of legislation has been proposed that moves Medicare reimbursement slightly away from fee-for-service and towards a value-based model. Through this model, providers will be required to submit quality data to CMS for a negative or positive payment adjustment based upon their quality and cost. This Medicare payment adjustment starts out at 4% of Medicare reimbursements but have the potential to grow as much as 15% in the upcoming years. Most providers will fall into the Merit Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) for reporting, while a few are able to report through the overwhelming regulations of an Advanced Alternative Payment Model. With an initial proposed start date of January 1, providers, payers, EHR vendors and anyone working in the healthcare field anxiously awaits the finalization of the rule expected just in time for Christmas.
In a rather unexpected announcement on Thursday, September 8th, Andy Slavitt, Acting Administrator of CMS, announced changes being incorporated into the final rule allowing providers a more flexible launch into MACRA. Providers will be able to choose from one of four options for reporting in their first year.
Option 1: Testing – Providers can opt to submit some data to avoid a negative payment adjustment.
Option 2: Partial Participation – Providers can report for a reduced number of days in 2017 to have a small positive payment adjustment.
Option 3: Full Participation – Providers can report as originally presented for the full calendar year of 2017 to see a substantial upwards payment adjustment.
Option 4: AAPM Participation – Providers can participate through and Advanced Alternative Payment Model.
These changes bring some relief for providers but come with many additional questions regarding what and how to report. The team at NeKY RHIO continues to study and research this complex program to provide tailored technical assistance to practices. Contact our office to schedule a time for us to discuss how this new program and changes will affect your practice.