Monday Morning Rounds with CMS

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Posted By: HHS/ONC/CMS Communications September 23, 2024

ICYMI, here is recent communication from CMS.

Upcoming MIPS Important Dates and Deadlines

CMS would like to remind clinicians of important upcoming Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) dates and deadlines:

October 2024

  • MIPS eligibility for the 2024 performance year will be updated based on the June 30 Alternative Payment Model (APM) snapshot (snapshot 2).
    • Note: Qualifying APM Participant (QP) determinations and MIPS APM participation information will be available on the QPP Participation Status Tool.
  • The 2025 virtual group election period opens, allowing solo practitioners and groups with 10 or fewer clinicians to submit an election to participate in MIPS as a virtual group for the 2025 performance period.
    • Note: 2025 virtual group election period details will be available on the QPP website later this year.
  • The final day to request a MIPS targeted review for your 2023 MIPS final score will be 60 days after the release of 2025 MIPS payment adjustment factor(s).
  • The exact date will be identified when we announce final performance feedback is available.
  • You’d only request a targeted review if you believe there’s an error in your MIPS performance feedback.

October 3, 2024

  • Last day to begin implementing an activity for a continuous 90-day performance period for the improvement activities performance category in the 2024 performance period.
    • Note: Most, but not all, improvement activities have a continuous 90-day performance period, but several improvement activities require completion of modules where there’s a year-long or alternate performance period. The performance period is 90 days unless otherwise stated in the activity description.

November 2024

December 2, 2024

  • Last day to register to report a MIPS Value Pathway (MVP) for the 2024 performance year.
  • Learn more about MVP registration.

December 2024

December 31, 2024

January 2, 2025

  • Data submission period opens for the 2024 performance year.

Events

RSVP to Join CMS for an Office Hour Session on October 4th
Do you have questions about the Antibiotic Use and Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance measure(s) of the Public Health and Clinical Data Exchange Objective for the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program? In conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, CMS is hosting an office hour session on October 4, 2024, at 2:00 PM ET. They will discuss the requirements for CY 2024 and CY 2025. If you have a question related to the Antibiotic Use and Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance measure(s) and would like to attend this office hour session, please email Elizabeth.Holland@cms.hhs.gov with your question and they will send the dial-in information.

News

CMS HQR System Now Accepting CY 2024 eCQM Data
CMS is notifying hospitals and vendors that the Hospital Quality Reporting (HQR) System is now accepting electronic clinical quality measure (eCQM) data for the calendar year (CY) 2024 reporting period. The HQR System now accepts Quality Reporting Document Architecture (QRDA) Category I test and production files using CY 2024 requirements.

Test QRDA Category I data submissions are considered practice submissions, and they do not count towards CMS program credit. Production QRDA Category I data submissions by hospitals, or by health information technology vendors on the hospital’s behalf, count as final data submissions to fulfill the eCQM reporting requirements for the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting (IQR) and Medicare Promoting Interoperability Programs.

CMS Seeks Requests for Comments on Templates to Aid Compliance with Mental Health Parity in Medicaid & CHIP
CMS requests comments on templates and instructional guides to help states and managed care plans document compliance with mental health and substance use disorder parity in Medicaid managed care arrangements, Medicaid alternative benefits plans, and CHIP in accordance with Medicaid and CHIP Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act Final Rule requirements. The templates, along with detailed guides, will help standardize and streamline the information states submit to CMS to demonstrate compliance. These tools are also designed to facilitate CMS’ analysis of parity compliance documentation and coordinate the review across divisions within CMS.

CMS Announces Date for Conference on Optimizing Healthcare Delivery to Improve Patient Lives
CMS posted a save the date for the 2024 CMS Conference on Optimizing Healthcare Delivery to Improve Patient Lives, which will take place on December 12, 2024. This free virtual conference will convene changemakers from across the healthcare community and federal government to share new ideas, lessons learned, and best practices to reduce administrative burden and strengthen access to quality care. Details on session topics, speakers, and registration are coming soon.

CMS Issues Revised Guidance for Eligible Providers Interested in Being Certified as Rural Emergency Hospitals
CMS posted revised guidance regarding the Rural Emergency Hospital (REHs) enrollment and conversion process to assist eligible providers interested in participating in Medicare and Medicaid as REHs. REHs are a new provider type established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 to address concerns over rural hospital closures. The revised memo incorporates additional information to help clarify the process and respond to stakeholder feedback.

Now Available: 2025 Eligible Clinicians and Eligible Hospitals/Critical Access Hospitals Electronic Clinical Quality Measure Flows
CMS developed and published the 2025 electronic clinical quality measure (eCQM) flows to the eCQI Resource Center. The eCQM flows supplement eCQM specifications for the 2025 reporting period for Eligible Hospitals/Critical Access Hospitals, and the 2025 performance period for Eligible Clinicians.

MIPS News

Reminder: 2024 MIPS Value Pathway (MVP) Registration Open
The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Value Pathways (MVPs) registration window is open for the 2024 performance year. Individuals, groups, subgroups, and Alternative Payment Model (APM) Entities that wish to report an MVP can register until December 2, 2024, at 8 p.m. ET.

Reminder: 2023 Targeted Review Available
Review your MIPS performance feedback, including your MIPS final score and payment adjustment factor(s), on the Quality Payment Program website.

  • Individual clinicians, groups, subgroups, virtual groups, APM Entities (including Shared Savings Program ACOs), designated support staff and authorized third party intermediaries may request that CMS review the calculation of their MIPS payment adjustment factor(s) through a process called targeted review.

When to Request a Targeted Review
If you believe there’s an error in the calculation of your MIPS  payment  adjustment factor(s), you can request a targeted review now until October 11, 2024, at 8 p.m. ET.

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