To run a health care practice, it’s crucial to have the right information to navigate through the many government changes. So I’ve put together a MIPS For Dummies, of sorts. My goal is to give you some insight into the quickly approaching government changes to the reimbursement process. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released some preliminary information and here is what we know.

Let’s start with the basics. What does MIPS stand for?
Monkey-Identified Petite Scoliosis. Just kidding! MIPS is the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System and it is a new value-based payment model. The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) is the statute that created this new advancement of the value-based payment model.

What is MIPS?
MIPS is a new payment system outlining financial incentives (and penalties) based on the data submitted by practices, which judges the quality, outcomes, and efficiency of patient treatment. Imagine that the Value-Based Modifier Program, Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), and the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) all met and joined forces under one larger, combined program.

Who is at the mercy of MIPS?
Perhaps you, if you’re reading this blog post. But really, MIPS reporting will be required for any clinician billing for professional services under Medicare Part B. This includes all physicians, dentists, chiropractors, physician assistants, physical or speech therapists, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and hospital-based eligible providers. Providers who are in their first year of Medicare or are below the low-volume threshold may not be required to participate in MIPS.

When is MIPS currently scheduled to roll out?
January 1, 2017! This time I’m not kidding…

Finally, here are some fun facts about MIPS:
1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is no longer accepting comments on the proposed rule - The cut off date was June 27, 2016. However, the final rule with comment period was issued on 11/4/16, and you can comment on that for only a few more days! Cut off for the comment period for this version of the rule is 12/19/16.

2. Qualifying Advanced Alternative Payment Model (APM) Participants are eligible clinicians who are exempt from the MIPS model. This includes Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), Patient Centered Medical Homes, and bundled payment models.

3. CMS released a fancy new (and surprisingly helpful!) website that guides practices through how to participate in each category of MIPS.

4. To participate in the ACI portion of MIPS you will need a 2014 or 2015 Edition Certified EHR before or on January 1, 2017.

5. If you're eligible for MIPS but decide not to participate in the program, you will receive an automatic negative 4% payment adjustment on your 2018 Medicare reimbursements. (This one is a not-so-fun fact).

Now, last but not least, pMD’s web portal can produce reports reflecting valuable quality data that can be leveraged for MIPS reporting, PQRS solutions and other government changes.

#MIPTASTIC #MIPSYALL #MIPSYEAH

Who is at the mercy of MIPS?
Perhaps you, if you’re reading this blog post. But really, MIPS reporting will be required for any clinician billing for professional services under Medicare Part B.

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