CMS releases 2020 proposed rule for Quality Payment Program
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its proposed rule for the 2020 Quality Payment Program (QPP). The QPP proposed rule affects the 2020 performance period/2022 payment year for practices participating in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and the Alternative Payment Models (APMs), as established within the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA).
CMS is proposing the following updates to MIPS in the 2020 proposed rule, including:
- Out of 100 MIPS points available, 40% will be allocated to Quality, 20% to Cost, 25% to Promoting Interoperability (formerly Advancing Care Information) and 15% to Improvement Activities.
- The proposed performance threshold for 2020 is 45 MIPS Total Points. Eligible Clinicians or practices who fail to participate, when required, or fail to meet the 45-point threshold may incur up to a negative 9% payment adjustment in 2022.
- The MIPS Quality reporting threshold is proposed to increase from 60% of eligible cases per measure to 70% of eligible cases.
The comment period for the proposed rule will close on September 27. ASA staff is reviewing the proposed regulations in detail and will share additional information as available. CMS has created a fact sheet comparing the current QPP rule with the proposed rule for the upcoming year.
Quality Reporting Office Hours - August 13
AQI's next Office Hours session is scheduled at 11 a.m. Central, Tuesday, August 13. AQI and ASA staff members also will provide quality reporting general announcements and participate in a question-and-answer session.
New NACOR dashboard overview - August 20
AQI and ePreop staff will present an overview of the new NACOR dashboard platform on Tuesday, August 20. The webinar sessions are scheduled at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Central. The webinar will be the same presentation that was given at the July Office Hours session.
NACOR participant survey
In order to improve the NACOR experience, AQI is soliciting feedback regarding AQI participation, the NACOR dashboard and educational resources for the 2018 reporting year. AQI emailed a short survey to practice champions on Friday, July 26. Survey responses are due Friday, August 9. Check your email for the survey or complete the survey here.
NACOR's value beyond government reporting
In AQI's latest podcast, Brian Cammarata, M.D., of Old Pueblo Anesthesia, Tucson, Arizona, discusses how reporting quality data to NACOR is about more than just meeting government requirements. Listen to the podcast, NACOR's value beyond government reporting, to learn about the importance of reporting through NACOR.
Attend the Anesthesia Quality Meeting™
Learn how to manage and improve the quality of your practice and your performance in quality measurement programs by attending the Anesthesia Quality Meeting at ASA headquarters in Schaumburg, Illinois, on November 16-17. An optional pre-conference workshop on quality reporting is scheduled on Friday, November 15. Register today.