QPP and EHR Incentive Program – What’s Next?

Finding Success in the QPP with Your MicroMD Software

Over the years, many practices using MicroMD software have been successful in participating in PQRS and the EHR Incentive Program to avoid negative payment adjustment and earn incentive payments. Now, with the 2017 introduction of the Medicare Quality Payment Program (QPP) and changes to the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Stage 2 and Stage 3 Meaningful Use requirements, providers need to meet new requirements, change their approach from fee-for-service to value-based care, and utilize certified EMR software, HIT tools, and support services to help them maximize program participation. With the purpose of getting providers back to the business of healing by being your trusted advisor, your MicroMD teams have been busy programming and certifying your MicroMD EMR software to meet the 2015 Edition CEHRT requirements, creating educational materials to help navigate the changing requirements, partnering with other certified solutions to assist in simplifying program participation, and upgrading clients to ensure providers have the tools and workflows needed to capture data, calculate and monitor results, and report.

Now through end of 2017: Upgrade and Run Your Reporting Period Numbers

EMR clients participating in either program must be upgraded to the most current version in order to utilize the 2015 Edition CEHRT. If you haven’t already scheduled your upgrade be sure to contact Client Support as soon as possible. The new software features administrative reporting that allows you to report on and monitor success for your selected QPP time period for all three performance categories, as well as to monitor success with your selected EHR Incentive Program measures and objectives. Identify your measures. Understand how they are calculated within MicroMD EMR. Run the reporting. Review the numbers. Coach your providers on workflows and required steps to meet and exceed the requirements. Monitor for success and needed improvements.

2018: Report Results

The dates for 2017 QPP reporting are January 1, 2018 through March 31, 2018. QPP participating providers using a certified registry, like MicroMD EMR integrated ReportingMD or the Alpha II claims-based registry, have the opportunity to report on all their QPP performance categories through the registry. Providers may also opt to generate and submit a QRDA III file for their Quality measures and separately attest to their Advancing Care Information (ACI) measure set and Improvement Activities (IAs). CMS has yet to confirm when and how the QRDA submission and attestation processes will occur. MicroMD PM users also have the option to submit claims-based data for their QPP Quality measures and submit ACI measure set and IAs via attestation. As QRDA and attestation submission methods become defined by CMS, we’ll share the updates.

Providers participating in the EHR Incentive Program should consult their state Medicaid organization to determine reporting options and timing.

2018 and Beyond: QPP and EHR Incentive Program Changes

While we do not yet have word on potential changes for the 2018 EHR Incentive Program, we do anticipate that 2018 will come with the annual release of Quality measure updates and changes to the rules and options for Year 2 of the QPP. CMS has issued the QPP Year 2 proposed rule that stress the goals of ensuring meaningful measurement and improving patient outcomes while minimizing the burden. Some of the proposed changes include allowing providers to participate as part of virtual groups, increasing the low-volume threshold so more providers can participate, additional options for scoring bonus points, taking Quality score improvements into account for scoring, and adding points for meeting small practice criteria. As with every CMS change, we expect that there will be measure and scoring changes that will require software development, updates, and provider workflow adjustments to meet the new requirements. Rest assured, we’ll be prepared to help you meet and exceed the new requirements.

MicroMD QPP and EHR Incentive Program Resources

Finally, I want to stress the importance of taking advantage of our resources as your trusted advisor. We’re invested in your success in running a successful practice, providing quality patient care, and minimizing provider burden. I’m proud of the work our QPP Taskforce has undertaken to pull together a host of educational materials and tools to help with these ever-changing programs. If you already haven’t:

• Contact us for practice-or provider-specific training; contact Celeste Tasker
• Simplify your QPP reporting by signing up with a certified registry; contact John Webb
• Access the recorded MicroMD MIPS webinars on the MicroMD Lounge
• Take advantage of the QPP Info Center on the MicroMD Lounge
• Review the MicroMD EMR software guides, including the Objectives and Measures Guide, Quality Measures Guide, and the MicroMD EMR Update Guide

As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to us with your questions.