1. CMS Allows You to Pick Your Pace
MACRA
Quality Payment Program
CMS Allows You to Pick Your Pace
Vinita Ollapally | Regulatory Affairs Manager
Division of Advocacy and Health Policy

2. CMS announces plans for the Quality Payment Program:
Pick Your Pace
CMS announces plans for the
Quality Payment Program:
2017 Participation Options
Quality Payment Program
CMS Allows You to Pick Your Pace

3. QPP Announcement
September 8, 2016: New plans announced for the first year of the Quality Payment Program (QPP)
CMS intends to “allow physicians to pick their pace” for reporting starting January 1, 2017
CMS Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt
Quality Payment Program
CMS Allows You to Pick Your Pace

4. QPP Announcement
The first performance year for the QPP is January 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017
CMS recently announced that physicians will have “multiple options for participation” in 2017
In response to ACS advocacy for flexibility given that full QPP implementation by January 1, 2017, is not possible
Quality Payment Program
CMS Allows You to Pick Your Pace

5. Four Reporting Options
1. Test the Quality Payment Program
2. Participate for part of the calendar year
3. Participate for the full calendar year
4. Participate in an Advanced Alternative Payment Model
*Details for these options will be outlined in the MACRA final rule, expected by November 1, 2016
Quality Payment Program
CMS Allows You to Pick Your Pace

6. Option 1: Test the Quality Payment Program
Physicians may “submit some data” to the QPP after January 1, 2017
Will avoid a negative payment adjustment under the QPP
Intended to ensure preparation for broader participation in 2018 and 2019
Quality Payment Program
CMS Allows You to Pick Your Pace

7. Option 2: Participate for Part of the Calendar Year
Physicians may “submit Quality Payment Program information for a reduced number of days”
Under this option, the first performance year could start after January 1, 2017
Example: Submit information for part of the calendar year for quality measures, how your practice uses technology, what improvement activities your practice is undertaking
Select from the list of quality measures and improvement activities available under the QPP
Physicians could still qualify for a small positive payment adjustment
Quality Payment Program
CMS Allows You to Pick Your Pace

8. Option 3: Participate for the Full Calendar Year
Physicians may “submit Quality Payment Program information for the full calendar year”
Performance year would start on January 1, 2017
For practices that are ready on January 1, 2017
Example: Submit information for the entire calendar year for quality measures, how your practice uses technology, what improvement activities your practice is undertaking
Physicians could qualify for a modest positive payment adjustment
Quality Payment Program
CMS Allows You to Pick Your Pace

9. Option 4: Participate in an Advanced Alternative Payment Model
Instead of reporting quality data and other information, physicians could participate in an Advanced APM in 2017
Development of Advanced APMs widely applicable for surgeons is the object of significant ongoing policy development efforts by ACS
Quality Payment Program
CMS Allows You to Pick Your Pace

10. Four Options: Pick Your Pace
Description
Timeline
2019 Payment Adjustment 1
Test the Quality Payment Program
At some point in calendar year 2017
Avoids negative payment adjustment 2
Participate for part of the calendar year
Reduced number of days in calendar year 2017
Could qualify for a “small” positive payment adjustment 3
Participate for the full calendar year
Full calendar year 2017
Could qualify for a “modest” positive payment adjustment 4
Participate in an Advanced APM
2017
Could qualify for a 5% incentive payment
*Details for these options will be outlined in the MACRA final rule, expected by November 1, 2016
Quality Payment Program
CMS Allows You to Pick Your Pace