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07/01/20

2020 Quality Payment Program Exception Applications Fact Sheet

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality Payment Program (QPP) does provide an opportunity for qualifying clinicians and groups to apply for exceptions to meeting the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) program requirements. The exception that most likely impacts most MIPS eligible clinicians in Performance Year 2020 is the “Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Exception Application“. Per CMS, this application allows you to request reweighting for any or all performance categories if youencounter an extreme and uncontrollable circumstance or public health emergency, such as COVID-19, that is outside of your control. Click HERE to access the 2020 QPP Exception

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03/22/20

2019 MIPS Data Submission Breaking News

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced changes to the submission date for the 2019 Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Performance Period for MIPS eligible clinicians. In addition, CMS has implemented an Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Exception for the 2019 MIPS Performance Period for MIPS eligible clinicians. QuestionWhat is the new deadline to submit data for the 2019 MIPS Performance Period? Answer QuestionWhat happens if I do not submit my individual data by the new deadline date and time? Answer QuestionWhat is the Automatic Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances policy? Answer QuestionWho does this automatic exception apply to?

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01/24/20

2018 MIPS Performance Data Released

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System data for Performance Period 2018. The final 2018 performance feedback data revealed: 98% of eligible clinicians participated in MIPS in 2018— up from 95% in 2017 98% of eligible clinicians exceeded the performance threshold score of 15 points to receive a positive payment adjustment— up from 93% in 2017 356,353 clinicians participated in MIPS through APMs— up from 341,220 in 2017 Click HERE to read more about the 2018 MIPS Performance Period data.

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12/18/19

MIPS Quality Measures for 2020 for PT, OT and SLP

For calendar year 2020, physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists will once again be considered Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligible clinicians. In this article, I will answer some of the more frequent questions I receive about the MIPS program as they relate to the Quality Performance Measures. Question #1 In Performance Period 2020, how many quality measures must physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists report? Answer #1 Question #2 How is the 70% data completeness calculated? Answer #2 Question #3 In Performance Period 2020, how are quality measures scored? Answer #3 Question #4 In Performance Year 2020,

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12/18/19

MIPS 2020 for PT, OT and SLP

For calendar year 2020, physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists will once again be considered Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligible clinicians. In this article, I will answer some of the more frequent questions I receive about the MIPS program. Question #1 What practice setting(s) does MIPS apply to? Answer #1 Question #2 Is there an easy way to know if I am a private practice with the Medicare program? Answer #2 Question #3 Does MIPS apply to Rehabilitation Agencies? Answer #3 Question #4 What is the determination period that CMS will use to see if an eligible clinician

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12/16/19

2019 MIPS Opt-In Begins January 2, 2020

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the instructions how to opt-in to the 2019 MIPS Performance Year for physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists in private practice. The Opt-In process will open on Thank you for being a Gold Member!

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08/12/19

MIPS 2020: Proposed Rule

On July 29, 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the proposed rule for services paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment Policies as well as Updates to the Quality Payment Program. The latter would include the Merit-Base Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Remember that only physical therapists (PTs), occupational therapists (OTs) and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) that practice in a private practice (submit claims on a 1500-claim form to the Medicare program) are eligible to participate in MIPS. This would include a therapist owned private practice or a physician owned private

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07/29/19

CMS Releases Proposed Rule for Calendar Year 2020

On July 29, 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the proposed rule for calendar year (CY) 2020 for services paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). This proposed rule does impact providers of outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy services in all outpatient therapy settings that does include private practices, hospital outpatient departments (including Medicare beneficiaries under Observation status and in the Emergency Department and do not get admitted to the hospital), skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation agencies, comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities and home health agencies providing outpatient therapy in a Medicare beneficiaries home. Highlights of

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