NACOR News
2017 NACOR Non-MIPS QCDR Measures Approved by CMS
On May 31, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published
version 1 of the 2017 CMS-Approved QCDR qualified posting
version 1 of the 2017 CMS-Approved QCDR qualified posting. Please note that this posting is version 1 of the 2017 CMS-Approved QCDR qualified posting, inclusive of approved QCDR (non-MIPS) measures thus far. Version 2 of the QCDR qualified posting will be the final version that is set to be published in June 2017. Version 2 may contain additional approved QCDR (non-MIPS) measures, added to the “QCDR Measures Supported” column for inclusion in 2017.
Review the list of the
NACOR non-MIPS QCDR measures approved for 2017 MIPS reporting
, as well as a list of additional NACOR non-MIPS QCDR measures pending approval by CMS for publication in version 2 of the CMS-Approved QCDR qualified posting in June 2017. The specifications for all approved NACOR non-MIPS QCDR measures will be available upon the posting of version 2 and finalization of all measures.
NACOR approved as QCDR
The Anesthesia Quality Institute’s National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry (NACOR) has been approved as a Qualified Clinical Data Registry (QCDR), as well as a Qualified Registry (QR) by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
The 2017 non-MIPS QCDR quality measures will be available soon. In 2017 the QCDR will include 31 Merit-based Incentive Payment System measures. Measure specifications and a 2017 Quality Reporting Users Guide will be available as soon as CMS approves the non-MIPS QCDR quality measures.
2017 MIPS measures approved
The Anesthesiology Specialty-Specific Measure Set was finalized by CMS in December. To learn more, check AQI’s 2017 MIPS Measures at a Glance. The measure specifications also can be found in the CMS Quality Payment Program.
AQI introduces new data submission portal
All NACOR participants and vendors must begin uploading data files to AQI’s new data submission portal on Saturday, July 1. All data must be submitted as a complete file, as AQI will no longer provide free file merging and formatting services. In the meantime, NACOR participants should continue uploading data using the standard process. For more information, email AQI_tech@asahq.org.
Don’t forget to renew for 2017 NACOR Quality Reporting
Practices that have enrolled in NACOR Basic and did not sign up for additional quality reporting options recently received information about 2017 NACOR reporting changes and instructions for the renewal process. Practices enrolled in NACOR Quality Reporting should receive a renewal letter soon. NACOR Quality Reporting options in 2017 include the NACOR-Group Practice Reporting Option (GPRO), Qualified Registry (QR), NACOR-GPRO Qualified Clinical Data Registry (QCDR), NACOR-Individual QR and NACOR-Individual QCDR.
AQI quality reporting solutions
Reporting options: Individual and Group Practice Reporting Option (GPRO) (NEW in 2017)
Reporting mechanisms: Qualified Registry (QR) and Qualified Clinical Data Registry (QCDR)
MIPS Improvement Activity Suggestions
ASA’s suggested improvement activities for anesthesiology and pain medicine will help clinicians attest for credit in the improvement activities component of MIPS. The new performance category in 2017 rewards clinicians for care coordination, beneficiary engagement and patient safety.
MIPS: Am I Exempt or Required to Report?
CMS recently released a Quality Payment Program eligibility tool that allows eligible clinicians (ECs) to use their National Provider Identifier to check whether they are exempt from MIPS. The website also notes that if ECs are included in MIPS, they may be exempt with the second review of eligibility determinations in late 2017.
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