MACRA Toolkit

In April 2015, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) was signed into law, permanently repealing an outdated, 18-year-old formula for reimbursing providers under Medicare. Year 1 of the program began in 2017.

More specifically, MACRA is bipartisan legislation that repealed the sustainable growth rate formula and also changes the way that Medicare rewards healthcare professionals for value over volume. MACRA established a new payment system called the Quality Payment Program (QPP) with two pathways for linking payment to quality and value. The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) allows clinicians to earn a positive payment adjustment by reporting in the following categories: quality, improvement activities, promoting interoperability (replaces Meaningful Use), and cost. Clinicians may also participate in Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs), where practices can earn more for taking on some risk related to their patients’ outcomes. MACRA itself reflects more than 10 years’ worth of advocacy by the AGS, its members, and a diverse cadre of other stakeholders committed to affecting change to improve the health and care of older adults.

Year 3 of the program began January 1, 2019. In November 2018, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final rule outlining the parameters for MIPS and Advanced APMs under the QPP for Year 3. We will continue to update the toolkit with resources as CMS releases further guidance.

AGS MACRA Toolkit

The AGS has pulled together resources to help you navigate these changes.

What You Need to Know to Be Prepared for MACRA

Are you required to participate? 

Key Deadlines

  •  Here are timelines of what to expect and when for the 2020 and 2021 Performance Years

Understanding the Quality Payment Program (QPP)

The QPP is a new payment approach, recognizing value and effectiveness of care provided by clinicians. The goal is to shift the payment system from quantity to quality, thus improving care for Medicare patients. This system includes two paths:

MIPS

MIPS factors in four weighted performance categories: Quality,  Promoting Interoperability  (formerly Advancing Care Information), Improvement Activities, and Cost. Performance in these categories is combined into one score called the MIPS Composite Performance Score (CPS) on a 0-100 point scale. The CPS is compared to a “Performance Threshold” and clinicians’ Medicare Part B payments will be adjusted up or down based on whether they are above or below the threshold. 

More on the MIPS Performance Categories (percentages listed are for 2019):

  1. Quality (45%): Replaces the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS). Clinicians report up to six measures. Unlike PQRS, which was a pay-for-reporting system, clinicians’ performance on these measures are evaluated based on benchmarks.
  2. Promoting Interoperability (25%): Replaces the previous Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program, "Meaningful Use." While there are certain mandatory measures, MIPS creates a more customizable experience for clinicians, allowing them to choose which additional measures to emphasize in their scoring.
  3. Improvement Activities (15%): Clinicians are rewarded for performing activities identified as improving clinical practice or care delivery, such as activities related to care coordination, patient engagement, and patient safety, that are likely to result in improved outcomes. Clinicians select up to four activities to receive a maximum score in this category.
  4. Cost (15%): Replaces the "Value-Based Modifier" and evaluates clinicians on relevant cost measures. This category began counting towards a clinician's CPS in 2018. 

APMs

APMs are a new approach that incentivizes clinicians providing exceptionally high quality and value of care. Those who participate in the most advanced APMs may qualify as qualifying APM participants (QPs). QPs would be exempt from MIPS and qualify for 5% incentive payments. 

More about APMs:

Support for small practices using MIPS or APMs

CMS has outlined some ways the new QPP can offer flexibility and support to small practices.

Webinars

MACRA News from AGS

MACRA Tools from Other Organizations

Questions on MACRA or Recommendations for Resources You’d Like to See –Contact info.amger@americangeriatrics.org

2019 MIPS Quality Measures Relevant to Geriatrics

CMS finalized a Geriatrics specialty measure set for the 2019 program year of MIPS on November 1, 2018. Click here to explore the current measures in the set. NOTE: Clinicians and groups can choose to submit a specialty or subspecialty measure set. In doing so, they must submit data on at least 6 measures within that set. If the set contains fewer than 6 measures, the clinician or group should submit each measure in the set.

To help members participate in quality reporting under MIPS, a workgroup of the AGS Quality and Performance Measurement Committee continues to review the full list of quality measures approved by CMS for reporting each year and identify those that best address the unique healthcare needs of the geriatric population and reflect the most relevant measures appropriate for the geriatrics specialty. Click hereto read the workgroup’s recommendations for the 2020 program year of MIPS. 

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