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STATLINE

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September 19, 2017

In This Issue:

CAP Advocacy consistently works with Medicare officials to help ease the negative effects of the evolving Quality Payment Program (QPP) reporting requirements for pathologists and laboratories. Through a strategy developed by the Council on Government and Professional Affairs and Economic Affairs Committee, the CAP advocates to ensure pathologists can participate in the Quality Payment Program (QPP) by providing resources to its members as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) begins implementation of payment reforms in 2017.

The CAP wants pathologists to be ready for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System, (MIPS) reporting in 2018 and has a number of online tools on the CAP’s Quality Payment Program web page that can help.

CAP Helps Make Sense of MACRA Video

The CAP wants to make sure that your practice understands and is ready to participate in the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). The rules to participate in the MACRA program can be confusing; the CAP created a short video, Making Sense of MACRA. It Pays to Be in the Know" to help explain MACRA, its requirements, and how the program will affect the practice of pathology.

MIPS Readiness Checklist

The CAP has also developed a MARCA-Readiness Checklist for Pathologists to help pathologists successfully participate in the QPP in 2017.

MIPS—What Reporting Option Is Best for You?

It's not a one-size-fits-all answer. Find your best option here using the CAP-developed MIPS reporting options comparison chart.

Watch the video, see the comparison chart, and download the checklist from the Quality Payment Program web page.

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On Tuesday, September 26, at 1:30 PM ET, the CMS will moderate the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) National Provider Call. On this call, physicians and eligible professionals will learn about PQRS penalties, PQRS feedback reports, and the informal review process for 2016 program results, and 2018 payment adjustment determinations.

PQRS reporting is phasing out, as 2016 was the last program year and transitioned to the MIPS under the QPP. The first MIPS performance period is January through December 2017.

This call is being evaluated by the CMS for CME and CEU continuing education credit. Check the event web page for CE Activity Information & Instructions

For more information, visit the Quality Payment Program website.

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The CMS is offering a call to help educate clinicians about the Physician Compare website, which is an online tool to help patients select their doctors. On Thursday, Sept. 28, at 1:30 PM ET, the CMS will host the call for all physicians, medical groups, practice managers, and medical and specialty societies.

Physician Compare is a website created by the CMS that lists all clinicians who participate in Medicare. Patients can review general information, location, and performance scores to help select their doctors.

During the call, the CMS will discuss:

  • Upcoming 30-day preview period for the 2016 performance data targeted for release in December
  • Future of public reporting and what is coming in the next year
  • How to review your performance information before it is published

A question-and-answer session follows the presentation.

Register for this Medicare Learning Network (MLN) event.

This event is being evaluated by the CMS for continuing medical education (CME) and CEU continuing education (CE) credit.

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Reserve your seat at featured Advocacy Courses

Registration is still open for key CAP policy and advocacy courses and roundtable discussions important to the pathology specialty during CAP17 at the Gaylord National Harbor from October 8–11, 2017.

Learn about the new Pathologists Quality Registry and how it can help you comply with the Quality Payment Program in 2017 during "Optimize Your Medicare Bonus Potential With the Pathologists Quality Registry."" One-hour sessions are offered on Monday and Tuesday, October 9 and 10, at 9:30 AM, NOON, 2:30 Pm.

Additional CAP advocacy courses and roundtable discussions are also available at CAP17:

  • M1596: How is My Payment Determined for Pathology Services?
  • R1690: My Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology Coding Dilemmas
  • R1691: Current Payment Policy Challenges in Pathology Practice
  • S1620: Medicare's New Quality Payment Program and the Physician Fee Schedule

Moreover, hear about the current trends in Pathology Practice and how it shapes CAP Advocacy efforts.

  • STA007C: Results from the 2017 CAP Practice Characteristics Survey

Check out the full list of Advocacy courses offered at CAP17.

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