MACRA News and Updates
UNDERSTAND the Quality Payment Program
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The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) introduces a new Medicare physician payment system called the Quality Payment Program. Learn more.
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Tracks
The Quality Payment Program is comprised of two tracks in which clinicians will participate in order to receive Medicare payment:
1. Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS)
2. Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs) -
Categories
Clinicians will be measured on four core categories (for both the MIPS and Advanced APM tracks):
• Quality
• Improvement Activities
• Advancing Care Information
• Cost -
Payment Adjustment Timeline
Beginning July 1, 2015, clinicians began receiving a 0.5 percent annual payment increase to Medicare payments. This payment increase will continue annually until Dec. 31, 2018. Starting in 2019, clinicians will receive payments based on their participating in one of two pathways: MIPS or an Advanced APM.
PREPARE For Quality Payment Program Implementation
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Step 1: Determine Your Track (MIPS or Advanced APM)
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Step 2: Explore Track Requirements:
MIPS
• Quality
• Improvement Activities
• Advancing Care Information
• Cost
Advanced APMs -
Step 3: Review Program Key Dates:
Get-up-to speed on key dates for years 1 and 2 of the Quality Payment Program and the last year of current Medicare quality reporting programs.
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Step 4: Pick Your Pace
Clinicians have four options for participating in the Quality Payment Program in 2017, a transition year:
1. Test the Quality Payment Program
2. Participate for part of the calendar year
3. Participate for the full calendar year
4. Participate in an Advanced Alternative Payment model
EXPLORE Quality Payment Program Resources
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Cardiovascular Quality Measures
Numerous ACC/American Heart Association measures are approved for Quality reporting under MIPS.
• Review a list of cardiovascular quality measures -
Cardiovascular Data Registries
ACC’s PINNACLE Registry can help you fulfill MIPS requirements for Quality, Improvement Activities and Advancing Care Information.
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MOC IV and Quality Improvement Resources
• Learn about how participating in MOC IV can help you fulfill MIPS Improvement Activities requirements.
• Check out ACC’s Quality Improvement for Institutions program. -
Education and Meetings
• Watch ACC’s webinars on MACRA
and the Quality Payment Program.
• Prepare for the path to value at the Cardiovascular Summit. -
Additional Resources
• CMS Quality Payment Program Website
• CMS Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative
• CMS Help Desk
• AMA Resources
Questions?