Apply to Participate in the 2018 Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Study on Burdens Associated with Reporting Quality Measures to Receive Improvement Activity Credit for 2018

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is conducting the 2018 Burdens Associated with Reporting Quality Measures Study, as outlined in the Quality Payment Program Year 2 final rule (CMS 5522- FC).

CMS is conducting this study to:

Examine clinical workflows and data collection methods using different submission systems;
Understand the challenges clinicians face when collecting and reporting quality data; and
Make future recommendations for changes that will attempt to eliminate clinician burden, improve quality data collection and reporting, and enhance clinical care.

Clinicians and groups who are eligible for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) that participate successfully in the study will receive full credit for the 2018 MIPS Improvement Activities performance category. Applications for this study will be accepted through April 30, 2018 and will be notified in spring of 2018 if selected.

Who Should Apply

MIPS-eligible clinicians participating in MIPS as an individuals or as part of a group. Clinicians do not need any outside knowledge of MIPS to participate in the study; rather the study team is interested in learning more about clinicians’ experience participating in MIPS.

A limited number of clinicians who are not eligible for MIPS in 2018 will also be included in the study. To check you participation status please see the QPP Website.

Study Requirements

The study runs from April 2018 to March 2019. Study participants will have to meet the following requirements in order to complete the study and receive full Improvement Activity credit. For participants reporting as a group, their entire group will receive credit. For participants reporting as individuals, only the participating clinician will receive credit.

Complete a 2017 MIPS participation survey in April/May 2018
Complete a 2018 MIPS planning survey September/October 2018
The Study team will invite selected participants to join a virtual 90-minute focus group between November 2018 and February 2019.
Meet minimum requirements for the MIPS Quality performance category by submitting data for at least three measures in the MIPS Quality performance category, as required for 2018 MIPS participation. The data submitted must:
Include one outcome measure;
Be submitted to CMS by the final MIPS reporting deadline (March 31, 2019);
Be submitted through any method accepted under MIPS for year 2 of the Quality Payment Program (2018).

To Apply

Click here to begin your application.

Applicants will be notified by email of their status in spring of 2018.

For more information about the study, please visit the CMS website or emailMIPS_Study@abtassoc.com.

Upcoming Webinar: APG Educational Series 2018, MIPS APMs to Advanced APMs: How to Make the Valuable Transition

This year, America’s Physician Groups (APG) is pleased to continue our webinar series with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for physicians and physician groups implementing the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) through the Quality Payment Program, focusing on Alternative Payment Models (APMs). Through a co-branding agreement with CMS, the sessions will combine CMS expertise on the regulation’s content with APG's members’ knowledge of how clinicians are responding on the ground to these important changes and care models.

APG designed the series to provide physicians and physician organizations the “how-to” for APM implementation. Given America’s Physician Groups’ leadership with advanced payment models, we are well positioned to share best practices and lessons learned in this area. Each session will include Q&A time with the presenters. We hope the webinars will be a valuable resource to help you successfully participate in APMs in 2018 and beyond. Our next session in the series will focus on:

Title: MIPS APMs to Advanced APMs: How to Make the Valuable Transition

Date: April 30, 2018

Time: 9:00am -10:30am PT / 12:00pm - 1:30pm ET

Register: http://eventcenter.commpartners.com/se/Rd/Rg.aspx?516875

Subject matter experts from CMS will review the MIPS APM model and requirements for qualifying to become an advanced APM. Additionally, CMS will answer specific audience questions on the final rule for 2018 and provide information and resources relevant to the transition from MIPS APM to advanced APMs.

APG will have its members cover key implementation steps for physicians and physician organizations in making the decision to transition. Our members will offer their strategies behind how they made the transition for their organization and share any challenges/pitfalls and tips as well. Further, they will be able to answer audience questions about their specific presentations.

Speakers:

CMS Speakers:

Corey Henderson, DrPH, MPA, Stakeholder Engagement and Policy Division, CMS Innovation Center
Adam Conway, MPH, Alternative Payment Model Infrastructure Division, CMS Innovation Center

APG Speakers:

Dr. Sam Skootsky, Chief Medical Officer, UCLA Faculty Practice Group and Medical Group
Chantal Buchanan, Executive Director, Medicare and Medicaid ACOs, New England Quality Care Alliance (NEQCA)

For more information, please contact Dr. Amy Nguyen, anguyen@capg.org or 213.239.5051.