CMS Releases Proposed 2018 MACRA Rule (Including QI CME as Improvement Activity)

On Tuesday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the long-anticipated proposed rule updating the Quality Payment Program – the program implementing the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) – for 2018. The rule continues the CMS trend of allowing more and more physicians to delay MACRA implementation, as many smaller and rural providers have said their lack of capital and resources make compliance difficult. MACRA will eliminate the sustainable growth formula and replace it with a .5% annual rate increase through 2019, when physicians are encouraged to shift to either a Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) or an Alternative Payment Model (APM). CMS also used provider feedback to shape the second year of the program. If the rule becomes finalized, it will advance CMS’ goal of regulatory relief, program simplification, and state and local flexibility in the creation of innovative approaches to healthcare delivery. Below is a comparison of current and proposed polices. Policy Topic Current Transition Year (CY 2017) Second Year (CY 2018) MIPS Policy Low-Volume Threshold Exclude individual MIPS eligible clinicians or groups with ≤$30,000 in Part B allowed charges OR ≤100 Part B beneficiaries during a low-volume threshold determination period that occurs during the performance period or a prior period. Increase the threshold to exclude individual MIPS eligible clinici...
Source: Policy and Medicine - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs