Monday Morning Rounds with CMS

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Posted By: HHS/ONC/CMS Communications October 17, 2022

ICYMI, here is recent communication from CMS.

Events

Register to Hear Important CMS Quality Program Updates
When: Tuesday, October 18, 2022  1:00 – 2:00 pm ET
Register for this event.
Webinar ID: 228-387-123

The next Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality Programs Bi-Monthly Forum will be held tomorrow. During this webinar, attendees will learn important updates relevant to CMS’s Quality Measurement and Value-Based Incentives Group (QMVIG), including the Quality Payment Program (QPP). The forum will also provide stakeholders with the opportunity to ask CMS subject matter experts questions on quality reporting programs and initiatives that directly impact their organizations.

The forum will include updates on the following topics:

  • eCQI Resource Center Update for the InfoTRAC;
  • Teach Me CQL Video Series;
  • Quality Data Model (QDM) User Group Update;
  • Electronic Clinical Quality Measures (eCQM) Flows;
  • The Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program;
  • The Merit-based Incentive Payment System; and
  • Alternative Payment Model Updates.

News

CMS Asks for Public Input on Establishing First, National Directory of Health Care Providers and Services
As part of CMS’s ongoing work to improve access to care, reduce clinician burden, and support interoperability throughout the health sector, CMS released a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public input on the concept of CMS creating a directory with information on health care providers and services or a “National Directory of Healthcare Providers and Services” (NDH).

Make Your Voice Heard Request for Information Seeks Public Comment to Promote Efficiency, Reduce Burden, and Advance Equity within CMS Programs
CMS released a Request For Information (RFI) seeking public input on accessing healthcare and related challenges, understanding provider experiences, advancing health equity, and assessing the impact of waivers and flexibilities provided in response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

Review the Updated Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program for eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals FAQ Page
CMS would like to spotlight the updated FAQ page on the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program website. This page provides useful information and resources for Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program participants.

CMS Discontinuing the Use of Certificates of Medical Necessity and Durable Medical Equipment Information Forms
As part of its ongoing efforts to increase access to care and to reduce unnecessary administrative burden for stakeholders, CMS will be discontinuing the use of Certificates of Medical Necessity (CMNs) and Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Information Forms (DIFs) for claims with dates of service on or after January 1, 2023. CMS suppliers must continue to submit CMN and DIF information for claims with dates of service before January 1, 2023 if it is required.

Quality Payment Program

Reminder: CMS Accepting 2021 MIPS Targeted Review Requests
If you participated in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System in 2021, you can now review your performance feedback, including your MIPS final score and payment adjustment factor(s), on the Quality Payment Program website. For MIPS eligible clinicians, your 2021 final score determines the payment adjustment you’ll receive in 2023, with a positive, negative, or neutral payment adjustment being applied to the Medicare paid amount for covered professional services furnished in 2023.

Now Available: 2022 Change Review Process (CRP)
CMS announces the availability of the 2022 Change Review Process for electronic clinical quality measures. The CRP provides eCQM users the opportunity to review and comment on draft changes to the eCQM specifications and supporting resources under consideration by the measure steward. The goal of the CRP is for eCQM implementers to comment on the potential impact of draft changes to eCQMs so CMS and measure stewards can make improvements to meet CMS’s intent of minimizing provider and vendor burden in the collection, capture, calculation, and reporting of eCQMs.

Now Available: 2023 Eligible Clinicians and Eligible Hospitals/Critical Access Hospitals Electronic Clinical Quality Measure Flows
CMS developed and published the 2023 electronic clinical quality measure flows to the eCQI Resource Center. The eCQM flows supplement eCQM specifications for the 2023 reporting period for Eligible Hospitals/Critical Access Hospitals, and the 2023 performance period for Eligible Clinicians. The eCQM flows are designed to assist in interpretation of the eCQM logic and calculation methodology for performance rates. The eCQM flows provide an overview of each of the population criteria components and associated data elements that lead to the inclusion or exclusions into the eCQM’s quality action (numerator).

Administrative Simplification

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