General Surgery Coding Alert

Question: We’re very concerned about keeping up with the latest quality programs to ensure that we’re doing the best by our patients and that we get the Medicare incentive pay for doing so. Is there help for learning about MIPS so we’ll be ready to participate?

Codify Subscriber

Answer: CMS has assembled on-the-ground support and resources for both small, rural, and underserved practices and larger group practices with more than 15 eligible clinicians to address the latest quality programs. The Quality Payment Program (QPP) Technical Assistance Resource Guide endeavors to make the transition for Medicare Part B providers from the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) fee-for-service system to the new value-based, quality-focused plan under MACRA painless and efficient.

“We’re offering support to help you successfully participate in the Quality Payment Program, in either the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) or the Advanced Alternative Payment Model (APM) track,” the Technical Assistance Resource Guide fact sheet states. “This support is from on-the-ground organizations and resources that you can get for free right away.”

The guidance suggests that education and assistance will go to smaller and rural practices first with touch points available by region. Currently, 11 organizations across the nation are there to support providers struggling with the changes and demands of reporting the new measures.

For bigger groups of 15 or more, the Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organizations (QIN-QIO) offers tech support.

For more information about the QPP and this new technical-advice initiative, visit //qpp.cms.gov/docs/QPP_Technical_Assistance_Resource_Guide.pdf.