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Physicians have until December 1 to dispute 2016 PQRS and QRUR findings

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released data that indicates which physicians will be subject to the 2018 payment penalties associated with the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) and Value-Based Payment Modifier (Value Modifier) programs. Physicians who have concerns about the findings in their report(s) have until December 1, 2017, to file for an informal review of their data.  The penalties stem from policies in effect prior to the enactment of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Failure to successfully report on PQRS in 2016 ...

CMS National Provider Calls include discussions on PQRS and Physician Compare in September

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service’s (CMS) September 2017 National Provider Call topics include the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) on September 26 and on Physician Compare on September 28. PQRS provider call: While 2016 was the last program year for PQRS and the final data submission time frame for reporting 2016 PQRS quality data to avoid the 2018 payment penalty was January through March 2017, this call will cover PQRS penalties, feedback reports, and the informal review process for 2016 results and 2018 payment adjustment determinations. For more information ...

Are you exempt from ICD-10 PQRS penalties in 2016?

On October 1, 2016, new ICD-10 code sets went into effect that will impact the ability of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to process data reported on certain quality measures for the fourth quarter of 2016. Because of this, CMS announced that it will waive 2017 or 2018 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) payment adjustments, if applicable, for any physician or group practice that fails to satisfactorily report for 2016 solely as a result of the impact of ICD-10 code updates on quality data reported for ...

Deadline extended to dispute 2015 PQRS and QRUR findings

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released data that indicates which physicians will be subject to the 2017 payment penalties associated with the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) and Value-Based Payment Modifier (VM) programs. Today, CMS announced that physicians who have concerns about the findings in their report(s) have until December 7 to file for an informal review of their data. The penalties in question stem from policies in effect prior to the enactment of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Failure to successfully ...

Physicians have until November 30 to dispute 2015 PQRS and QRUR findings

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released data that indicates which physicians will be subject to the 2017 payment penalties associated with the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) and Value-Based Payment Modifier (VM) programs. Physicians who have concerns about the findings in their report(s) have until November 30 to file for an informal review of their data. The penalties in question stem from policies in effect prior to the enactment of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Failure to successfully complete required PQRS reporting ...

CMS extends Physician Compare preview period

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended the Physician Compare preview to November 16, 2015, to allow more time for physicians to preview their data for the 2014 quality measures that will be reported on the Physician Compare website later this year. The Affordable Care Act required CMS to create a website that would allow consumers to search for and compare physicians and other health care professionals who provide Medicare services. That site—the "Physician Compare" website, initially launched in 2010—provides contact information, specialties and clinical training, hospital ...

CMS announces 30-day period of Physician Compare

On October 5, 2015 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) opened the 30-day preview period on October 5, 2015 for the 2014 quality measures that will be reported on the Physician Compare website later this year. The Affordable Care Act required CMS to create a website that would allow consumers to search for and compare physicians and other health care professionals who provide Medicare services. That site—the "Physician Compare" website, initially launched in 2010—provides contact information, specialties and clinical training, hospital affiliations and group practice information. In 2014, the ...

CMS announces transition of single sign-on IACS system

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) established the Individuals Authorized Access to the CMS Computer Services (IACS) as a means to provide a single user ID for business partners to access multiple CMS applications. For physician offices, this consists primarily of the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS)/eRx Physician Quality Reporting System and E-Prescribing Incentive Programs. CMS has announced that, on July 13, 2015, authorized users of the IACS system will be transitioned to the existing Enterprise Identity Management (EIDM) system. The EIDM system will allow a single ...

CMA updates physician guide to getting started with PQRS

The California Medical Association (CMA) has just updated the “2015 PQRS and Value-Based Modifier Getting Started Guide,” free for physician members. The Medicare Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) was federally mandated by legislation and requires physicians to report quality information to Medicare or suffer a fee reduction in 2015. This guide will assist physicians in determining how to proceed with successful reporting. Contact: Michele Kelly, (213) 226-0338 or mkelly@cmanet.org.

CMS extends PQRS reporting deadline for some reporting methods

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended the submission deadlines for two Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) reporting methods from February 28 to March 20 at 8 p.m., EST. The two affected reporting methods are: Direct electronic health record (EHR) submission or submission via a vendor using certified EHR technology Qualified clinical data registry (using the QRDA III format) reporting for PQRS and the clinical quality measure component of meaningful use for the EHR Incentive Program Submission timeframes for other PQRS reporting ...