While independent ENT practices are uncertain with the upcoming changes to the regulations – yours might be exempt. The Merit-Based Incentive Payment System, aka, MIPS, has clear-cut criteria.
Only those ENT clinicians who bill for Medicare Part B (otherwise known as the Physician Fee Schedule) — or Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Method II payments assigned to the CAH — can participate in MIPS.
Download Guide 2: Don’t Let MACRA MIPS You in the Butt
Excluded from MIPS eligibility
For 2017, there are three exemptions from MIPS:
- Clinicians in their first year of Medicare Part B participation
- Clinicians billing Medicare Part B up to $10,000 and providing care for up to 100 Part B patients in one year.
- Clinicians participating in an Advanced APM who qualify for a 10 to 20% bonus payment.
Also, those ENT physicians who participate in the most advanced APMs may be qualifying APM participants (“QPs”). As a result, QPs are not subject to MIPS, and will receive 5% lump sum bonus payments during 2019-2024 and a higher fee schedule update for 2026 and onward.
Easing MACRA/MIPS Administrative Burden
Many independent ENT physicians who qualify for MIPS are struggling with reporting requirements, revenue collection, and competition from larger practices and physician networks.
- Practices believe they “will not have the technology, capital or staffing to sustain under the conditions [of MIPS,]” according to Black Book Market Research.
- The burden of compiling quality metrics is the biggest burden MACRA brings. Physicians spend an average 1 hours every week processing quality metrics.
Start Preparing Now!
Forward-thinking organizations, such as ENT-Cloud, already have the technology and management expertise in place.
Our systems and software provide ENT practices the valuable reporting and revenue cycle tools.
We will also provide the support needed to survive the upcoming changes.
