VCSQI Practices to Continue in TCPI & Transition to Vizient Practice Transformation Network — Register for Info Webinars
We are now beginning to transition VCSQI TCPI practices to the Vizient Practice Transformation Network (PTN). We hope you will continue with Vizient to complete all 5 phases of transformation and to be recognized by CMS at the end of the TCPI (September 2019) for your practice’s Transitioning to the Vizient PTN is a continuation of your TCPI work; you are not starting over. Even if you have completed all 5 phases working with VCSQI, we encourage you to transition to Vizient for continued TCPI updates, as well as support related to the Quality Payment Program (MIPS and APMs).
Several time options remain for listening to the webinar that will acquaint you with Vizient and the work Vizient does both as a company and as a Practice Transformation Network. The proposed delivery model will be presented, your questions and feed-back will help to finalize development of this model.
Facilitators of the Information Webinar:
- Tom Villanueva, DO, MBA, FACPE, SFHM – Associate Vice President, Clinical Resources, Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative
- Deborah Melnyk, PhD, RN, FAAN – Project Director, VCSQI SAN 2.0/PTN
- Colleen J. Oldham, MSN, RN, FACHE – Sr. Director, Transforming Clinical Practice InitiativeAdvisory Services
- Shannon Hale, MHA, RN, CPHQ – Quality Improvement Advisor, Transforming Clinical Practice InitiativeAdvisory Services
- Kirsse Zemedhun, MPH, CPHQ – Quality Improvement Advisor, Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative Advisory Services
Please utilize the links below to register for a webinar (you only need to attend one of the below options). This call will also be recorded and sent out to those who have registered.
| Friday, 11/9: 9:00-9:30 am EST | Register here
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| Monday, 11/12: 2:30– 3:00 pm EST | Register here
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| Thursday, 11/15: 9:30–10:00 am EST | Register here
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We look forward to seeing you soon at one of the above webinars! If you have any questions, please contact Shannon Hale (shannon.hale@vizientinc.com) or Kirsse Zemedhun (kirsse.zemedhun@vizientinc.com) .
The slides shown in the presentation can be viewed here.
To Help You Accelerate Meeting TCPI Milestones and Progressing thru TCPI’s 5 Phases, Here are Previously Recorded VCSQI SAN 2.0 Classes
Each class addresses a group of milestones along common themes. The TCPI Project for primary care clinicians includes 27 milestones and for specialists, 22.
- Business Strategies: https://youtu.be/GLFZLVZRLYY
- Person and Family Centered Care: https://youtu.be/idhoQlRGJCc
- Coordinated Care & Population Management: https://youtu.be/X9wvuXtYR8o
- Streamlining Clinical & Office Work: https://youtu.be/g3FlXYUUTio
- Identifying Patient Risk and Using Best Practices: https://youtu.be/MVN9j5sKZs0
- Teamwork and Joy in Your Practice: https://youtu.be/DyW-vUs1L2g
- Setting Quality Improvement Goals: https://youtu.be/YcN5DJn2iVA
- Quality Improvement Processes & Data Capture/Analysis Best Practices: https://youtu.be/qypME-TaDM4
Check out our NEW WEBSITE with Resources for Meeting the 22 Specialty Milestones: Click Here
2018 MIPS Participation Information Webinar: In case you missed the recording held in April, here is a link for more information for a better understanding of MIPS for 2018 – Click Here.
Congratulations to 16 Practices Completing 5 Phases of TCPI with VCSQI
- Cedar Edge Chiropractic
- Davidson Dermatology
- Dobyns – Amos Medical
- Dr. Gump – PA
- First Coastal Surgical Associates
- Grigor M. Harutunian MD Inc.
- Havascu Cardiac Surgery
- Heart Care Associates Cardiology (Hopewell)
- Hopedale
- Hurwitz and Gessert
- Knoxville Comprehensive Breast Center
- Laurel Kidney
- McLeod Chiropractic
- NE Texas Neurology Associates
- Options Rehab
- Paul K. Wein MD
- Sentara (including Mid Atlantic Cardiac Surgery)
The Quality Payment Program Resource Library is Back on QPP.CMS.GOV
Visit the Quality Payment Program Website to Find Available Resources
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has moved Quality Payment Program (QPP) resources from CMS.gov to the newly redesigned Quality Payment Program Resource Library on qpp.cms.gov. Following feedback from clinicians and others in the health care community, we wanted to make Quality Payment Program information and resources available in one place. We’ve also made it easier for you to find the resources you’re looking for by including a search function that allows you to search for resources by year, reporting track, performance category, and by document type (e.g., fact sheet, user guide, measure specifications).
- Go to the Quality Payment Program Resource Library to review Quality Payment Program resources.
- Visit the Quality Payment Program website to check your participation status, explore measures, and to review guidance on MIPS, APMs, what to report, and more.
Prepare for 2018 MIPS Data Submission by Obtaining Your Enterprise Identification Management (EIDM) Credentials Now
The 2018 performance year for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) ends on December 31, 2018. To access the Quality Payment Program Portal and submit your 2018 performance data, you’ll need your EIDM User ID and Password. If you do not have an EIDM account, navigate to the CMS Enterprise Portal and select ‘New User Registration’ to create one. The following information is required for registration:
- Application Name
- Application Role
- Organization Legal Business Name, Address, and Phone Number
- Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) and corresponding individual Provider Transaction Access Number (PTAN)
Once you complete your EIDM account registration, you will receive an e-mail acknowledging your successful account creation with your EIDM User ID. Use your unique EIDM User ID and Password to login to the Quality Payment Program Portal. CMS encourages you to create an EIDM account or verify your EIDM credentials now to prepare for your 2018 MIPS data submission.
MIPS Eligible Clinicians Submitting Quality Data via Claims Can Now View Performance Feedback for 2018
CMS has updated the Quality Payment Program website so individual eligible clinicians who choose to submit their Quality performance category data via claims can access performance feedback for the 2018 performance year on an ongoing basis. If you are participating in MIPS as an individual clinician and you have chosen to use claims to submit Quality performance category data, you attach quality data codes (G-codes) to your claims throughout the 2018 performance year. Those who have been doing so can now login to the Quality Payment Program website and review their performance feedback, which will be updated on a monthly basis.
Submitting Quality Performance Data via Claims
When you submit your quality data to CMS through your claims, they’ll be processed to final action by the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC). The last day for submitting 2018 claims with quality data codes for the 2018 performance period is determined by your MAC, but data must be submitted on claims with dates of service during the performance period and must be processed no later than 60 days after the close of the performance period. Please check with your MAC for this guidance.
As a reminder: claims-based quality measures are calculated automatically by CMS based on the quality data codes submitted on your 2018 claims. Claims data submission is only an option for Year 2 (2018) if you’re participating in MIPS as an individual (not as part of a group).
For more information about submitting your Quality performance category data via claims, review the 2018 Claims data submission fact sheet.
New QPP CME Modules, Infographics, and Scoring Guide Now Available
CMS has posted three new continuing medical education (CME) modules on the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) performance categories and MIPS Alternative Payment Models (APMs). You can access them by logging into your Medicare Learning Network account or creating one here. The new CME modules include:
- 2018 Improvement Activities Performance Category CME Module: Covers the basics of the MIPS Improvement Activities performance category including reporting requirements, scoring, and flexibilities for small and rural practices.
- 2018 Cost Performance Category CME Module: Offers an overview of the MIPS Cost performance category and how CMS calculates Cost scores.
- 2018 MIPS APM CME Module: Provides an overview of MIPS APMs, the APM scoring standard, and reporting requirements for MIPS APM participants.
Additional Quality Payment Program Resources
CMS has also posted the following new resources:
- 2018 Quality Payment Program Participation Infographic: Explains how eligible clinicians can participate in the Quality Payment Program for the 2018 performance year.
- 2018 MIPS Data Submission Infographic: Reviews how MIPS eligible clinicians can submit data for the 2018 performance year.
- 2018 MIPS Scoring 101 Guide: Provides a detailed overview of how each MIPS performance category is scored, how CMS calculates bonus points, and how the payment adjustment is calculated based on the MIPS final score.
- Improvement Activities Performance Category Fact Sheet
- 2018 Cost Performance Category Fact Sheet
- 2018 Other MIPS APM Quality Performance Category
- Scores for Improvement Activities in MIPS APMs in the 2018 Performance Period
- MIPS Participation & Overview Fact Sheet
Requests for Small Practice Hardship Exclusion from Promoting Interoperability Category
Small practices can request a hardship exclusion from the Promoting Interoperability category. Request is due by end of year but you should apply sooner to be safe! Your percent for the Promoting Interoperability Category gets moved to the Quality Category. Here is the link to learn more and apply: https://qpp.cms.gov/about/small-underserved-rural-practices
Final Policy, Payment, and Quality Provisions Changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for Calendar Year 2019
On November 1, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule that includes updates to payment policies, payment rates, and quality provisions for services furnished under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) on or after January 1, 2019.
The calendar year (CY) 2019 PFS final rule is one of several final rules that reflect a broader Administration-wide strategy to create a healthcare system that results in better accessibility, quality, affordability, empowerment, and innovation.
For More Information:
The 2019 CMS QRDA III Implementation Guide, Schematron, and Sample Files Are Now Available
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published the 2019 CMS Quality Reporting Document Architecture (QRDA) Category III Implementation Guide (IG), Schematron, and Sample files. The 2019 CMS QRDA III IG will help eligible clinicians and eligible professionals report electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs), improvement activities, and/or promoting interoperability measures for the calendar year 2019 performance period.
The IG provides technical instructions for QRDA III reporting for the following programs:
- Quality Payment Program: Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs)
- Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+)
- Promoting Interoperability (PI)
Additional QRDA-Related Resources:
- You can find additional QRDA related resources, as well as current and past IGs, on the Electronic Clinical Quality Improvement Resource Center.
- For questions related to the QRDA IGs and/or Schematrons, visit the ONC QRDA JIRA Issue Tracker.
Visit the VCSQI website and see more resources and information in the sidebar of tabs on the right.
Working Together We Can Achieve Our Goals
