Online Course Helps Providers Understand Reporting Requirements of PQRS
4Medapproved, the leading provider of online education and certification resources on topics relating to healthcare information technology and medical business practices, announced today its latest course offering: The Certified PQRS Healthcare Professional (CPHP) course.
The new 4Med CPHP course provides comprehensive self-paced instruction to help practice managers, clinicians and healthcare professionals understand the often daunting and complex reporting requirements connected with the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS). This new course describes both 2013 and 2014 reporting, outlining individual measures and measures groups, and the four main reporting categories.
In 2014, CMS is changing the PQRS system to include better alignment of PQRS measures with the National Quality Strategy and Meaningful Use requirements, transitioning away from process measures in favor of performance and outcome measures. That said, the number of required measures triples in 2014, creating a more complex set of requirements. There are also new pay-for-performance and certification requirements.
In 2015 incentives will be replaced by penalties of 1.5% of allowed charges from the 2013 reporting year, which is due by the end of February of this year. In 2016 penalties will increase to 2% which can be avoided by participating in the program in 2014.
“We reach out to our medical provider and consulting audience for guidance in timing our course releases,” said Wendy Whitmore, CIO of 4Medapproved. “They have repeatedly expressed a need for more assistance with regulatory, reporting and compliance issues. Our goal is launch one new course each month to address these important topics, to meet the myriad of deadlines and timelines presented by government agencies.”
The 4Med educational approach follows the unique 10/10/10 study method, which allows medical professionals to progress at their own pace through text lessons, multimedia modules, and assessments. This method helps cement concepts and provides a high level of knowledge and skill retention for true learning success. The course was developed in close collaboration with industry experts who have years of real-world PQRS experience.
Completion of the course awards a Certification in PQRS Proficiency, which has been reviewed and sanctioned by the 4Medapproved professional advisory board. In addition, the course is accredited and offers CEUs (continuing education units) for nurses and college students through a partnership with Corexcel. A second release of the course in the first quarter of 2014 will extend CME credit for physicians through a distribution partnership to select Medical Associations.
You can find this new course under PQRS and Meaningful Use. HITECH Answers readers and followers can get 20% of this course and any others by entering promo code HITECH at check-out.