Part Two: MACRA More MIPS, and APMs
In part two of our MACRA analysis, we continue our look at MIPS and evaluate the APM pathway of MACRA’s new quality payment program.
Small Practice Considerations
Exemption
Key finalized policies include a small practice-friendly low volume threshold. In 2017, the threshold has been set at “less than or equal to $30,000 in Medicare Part B allowed charges or less than or equal to 100 Medicare patients.” CMS says this new threshold represents 32.5 percent of Medicare clinicians but only 5 percent Medicare Part B spending.
CMS says that the new flexibilities from the final rule lessen the impact on small and solo practices. CMS says “we believe that small and solo practices will respond to MIPS by participating at a rate close to that of other practice sizes.” CMS estimates each practice size will achieve either an 80 percent or 90 percent participation rate, and that at least 80 percent of clinicians in small practices will receive a positive or neutral adjustment.
Virtual Groups
MACRA allows solo and small practices to join “virtual groups” to combine their MIPS reporting. Many commenters asked CMS to allow groups with more than 10 clinicians to participate as virtual groups, even though the statute limits virtual groups to groups of not more than 10 clinicians. CMS notes that it is not implementing virtual groups in the first year of the program, and that it believes it has addressed some of the concerns expressed by clinicians hesitant to par...
Source: Policy and Medicine - Category: American Health Authors: Thomas Sullivan - Policy & Medicine Writing Staff Source Type: blogs
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