CMS to clinicians: Help us better understand the burden of MIPS
Clinicians who complete the study will earn a full activity credit toward their quality reporting, according to the CMS.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is asking clinicians to participate in a study on the burden of quality reporting for the merit-based incentive system.
CMS is looking at what's involved in reporting quality measures in 2018 including the clinical workflow and data collection methods using different submission systems, the challenges of collecting and reporting and recommended changes.
[Also: CMS slowly ramping up quality score measures in MIPS to prepare doctors for the future]
MIPS-eligible clinicians - either participating individually or as a group - may apply through March 23. CMS is also including in the study a limited number of clinicians who are not in MIPS.
The study runs from April 2018 to March 2019.
[Also: MedPAC votes to nix MIPS]
Clinicians who participate earn a full activity credit. They must complete a 2017 MIPS participation survey in April and May of 2018 and a MIPS planning survey in September and October 2018. They must join a virtual 90-minute focus group between November 2018 and February 2019 and meet minimum requirements for the MIPS quality performance category by submitting data for at least three measures in the MIPS quality performance category as is required for 2018 MIPS participation.
The data must include one outcome measure and be submitted by March 31, 2019. The final MIPS reporting deadline and be submitted through any method accepted under MIPS for Year 2 of the quality payment program.
[Also: Radiology practices using AI and NLP to boost MIPS payments]
Clinicians selected will be notified by email this spring after CMS receives the applications. For more information on the study or MIPS participation status not available online, email MIPS_Study@abtassoc.com.
CMS's request shows it has listened to physician groups that have voiced concern over the reporting requirements.
Speaking before the Senate Finance Committee earlier this month, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said he wanted to reduce or eliminate physician reporting requirements for MIPS.
This option was included in the budget bill earlier this month that ended the government shutdown. The bill gave CMS the option to slow down certain aspects of MIPS, according to healthcare informatics.
MIPS is one of two tracks for reporting quality measures and getting paid under MACRA.
Twitter: @SusanJMorse
Email the writer: susan.morse@himssmedia.com
