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

Starting with 2019 MIPS performance period: let clinicians opt-in to MIPS if they exceed 1 or 2 of the low-volume threshold components: Medicare revenue, or Number of Medicare patients.

Additionally, CMS is proposing that in 2019 the opt-in process would be allowable for 3 items, and is seeking comment on a 3rd potential component: Number of Part B items and services

· Adding Virtual Groups as participation option for year 2, which would be composed of solo practitioners and groups of 10 or fewer eligible clinicians who come together “virtually” with at least 1 other such solo practitioner or group to participate in MIPS for a performance period of a year.

· In order for solo practitioners to be eligible to join a Virtual Group, they would need to meet the definition of a MIPS eligible clinician and not be excluded from MIPS based on one of the 4 exclusions (new Medicare-enrolled eligible clinician; Qualifying APM Participant; Partial Qualifying APM Participant who chooses not to report on measures and activities under MIPS; and those who do not exceed the low-volume threshold). In order for groups of 10 or fewer eligible clinicians to be eligible to participate in MIPS as part of a Virtual Group, groups would need to exceed the low-volume threshold at the group level. A group that is part of a Virtual Group may include eligible clinicians who do not meet the definition of a MIPS eligible clinician or may be excluded from MIPS based on one of the four exclusions.

· Allow flexibility for solo practitioners and groups of 10 or fewer eligible clinicians to decide if they want to join or form a Virtual Group with other solo practitioners or groups of 10 or fewer eligible clinicians, regardless of location or specialties.

· If the group chooses to join or form a Virtual Group, all eligible clinicians under the TIN would be part of the Virtual Group.

· CMS proposes various components that would need to be included in a formal written agreement between each member of the Virtual Group.

Virtual Groups that choose this participation option would need to make an election prior to the 2018 performance period (as outlined in the MACRA legislation).

· If/when TIN/NPIs move to an APM, CMS proposes to exercise waiver authority so that CMS can use the APM score instead of the Virtual Group score.

· Generally, policies that apply to groups would apply to Virtual Groups, except the following group-related policies:

  o Definition of non-patient facing MIPS eligible clinician.

  o Small practice status.

  o Rural area and Health Professional Shortage Area designations.

Available only for facility-based clinicians who have at least 75% of their covered professional services supplied in the inpatient hospital setting or emergency department.

The facility-based measurement option converts a hospital Total Performance Score into a MIPS Quality performance category and Cost performance category score.

· 60% in 2019 payment year.

· 50% in 2020 payment year.

· 30% in 2021 payment year and beyond.

Data completeness:

· 50% for submission mechanisms except for Web Interface and CAHPS.

· Measures that do not meet the data completeness criteria receive 3 points.

Scoring:

· 3-point floor for measures scored against a benchmark.

· 3 points for measures that don’t have a benchmark or don’t meet case minimum requirements.

· 3 points for measures that do not meet data completeness.

· Bonus for additional high priority measures up to 10%.

· Bonus for end-to-end electronic reporting up to 10%.

· 60% in 2020 payment year.

· 30% in 2021 payment year and beyond.

Data completeness:

· No change, but CMS proposes to increase the data completeness threshold to 60% for the 2019 MIPS performance period.

· Measures that do not meet data completeness criteria will get 1 point instead of 3 points, except that small practices will continue to get 3 points.

Scoring:

· Keep 3-point floor for measures scored against a benchmark.

· Keep 3 points for measures that don’t have a benchmark or don’t meet case minimum requirement.

· Measures that do not meet data completeness requirements will get 1 point instead of 3 points, except that small practices will continue to get 3 points.

· No change to bonuses.

· Proposed changes to the CAHPS for MIPS survey collection and scoring

· 0% in 2019 payment year.

· 10% in 2020 payment year.

· 30% in 2021 payment year and beyond.

Measures:

· Will include the Medicare Spending per Beneficiary (MSPB) and total per capita cost measures.

· 10 episode-based cost measures.

· Measures do not contribute to the score, feedback is provided for these measures.

· CMS proposes 0% in 2020 MIPS payment year, but are soliciting feedback on keeping the weight at 10%.

· 30% in 2021 MIPS payment year and beyond.

Measures:

· Include only the Medicare Spending per Beneficiary (MSPB) and total per capita cost measures in calculating Cost performance category score for the 2018 MIPS performance period. However, these measures will not contribute to the 2018 final score if the Cost performance category is finalized to be weighted at 0%.

· CMS expects to replace previous episode-based cost measures are developed in collaboration with expert clinicians and other stakeholders.

· 15% and measured based on a selection of different medium and high-weighted activities.

Number of activities:

· No more than 2 activities (2 medium or 1 high-weighted activity) are needed to receive the full score for small practices, practices in rural areas, geographic HPSAs, and non-patient facing MIPS eligible clinicians.

· No more than 4 activities (4 medium or 2 high-weighted activities, or a combination) for all other MIPS eligible clinicians.

· Total of 40 points.

· 92 activities were included in the Inventory.

Definition of certified patient-entered medical home:

· Includes accreditation as a patient-centered medical home from 1 of 4 nationally-recognized accreditation organizations; a Medicaid Medical Home Model or Medical Home Model; NCQA patient-centered specialty recognition; and certification from other payer, state or regional programs as a patient-centered medical home if the certifying body has 500 or more certified member practices.

· Only 1 practice within a TIN has to be recognized as a patient-centered medical home or comparable specialty practice for the TIN to get full credit in the category.

Scoring:

· All APMs get at least 1/2 of the highest score, but CMS will give MIPS APMs an additional score to reach the highest score based on their model. All other APMs must choose other activities to get additional points for the highest score.

· Designated specific activities within the performance category that also qualify for Advancing Care Information bonus.

· For group reporting, only 1 MIPS eligible clinician in a TIN must perform the Improvement Activity for the TIN to get credit.

· Allow simple attestation of Improvement Activities

· No change.

Number of activities:

· No change in the number of activities that MIPS eligible clinicians have to report to reach a total of 40 points.

· CMS is proposing more activities to choose from and changes to existing activities for the Inventory.

· MIPS eligible clinicians in small practices and practices in a rural areas will keep reporting on no more than 2 medium or 1 high-weighted activity to reach the highest score.

Definition of certified patient-centered medical home:

· CMS proposes to expand the definition of certified patient-centered medical home to include the CPC+ APM model.

· CMS proposes to make it clear that the term “recognized” is the same as the term “certified” as a patient-centered medical home or comparable specialty practice.

· CMS proposes a threshold of 50% for 2018 for the number of practices within a TIN that need to be recognized as patient-centered medical homes for the TIN to get the full credit for the Improvement Activities performance category.

Scoring:

· No change to the scoring policy for APMs and MIPS APMs.

· Keep designated activities within the performance category that also qualify for an Advancing Care Information bonus.

· For group participation, only 1 MIPS eligible clinician in a TIN has to perform the Improvement Activity for the TIN to get credit. CMS is soliciting comments on alternatives for a future threshold.

· Keep allowing simple attestation of Improvement Activities