Quality Payment Program

Medicare measures clinicians on how quality care is provided to patients and if costs are reduced through a patchwork of data reporting programs. Most clinicians report through some combination of the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), the Value Modifier Program and the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program.

A final rule has been issued by CMS to establish the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). Comments on the final rule are being accepted until Dec. 12, 2016. The final rule goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2017.

MACRA replaces the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula by paying clinicians for the value and quality of care they provide.

The final rule makes these changes through a single framework called the “Quality Payment Program.” The Program has two paths:

• The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS)
• Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs)

atom Alliance offers technical assistance to healthcare providers and stakeholders in a five state region — Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee. Medicare’s Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs), like atom Alliance, have been a resource and partner to clinicians participating in the PQRS and Value Modifier programs.

We continue to provide understanding and assistance on this major delivery system and Medicare payment reform. atom Alliance is a resource for knowledge and tools that help you improve health quality, efficiency and value.

Speaker’s Bureau Requests: atom Alliance has experts capable of presenting information about this new program to your staff, peers or professional associations. To determine if our speakers can meet your needs, please contact us with the details of your request.

Watch This Page: Check back regularly as we will post the latest information about the Quality Payment Program as it becomes available and how atom Alliance can help you meet national requirements. Be sure to check out the official CMS page as well.