On November 2, 2016, the final rule with comment period (the “Final Rule”) implementing provisions of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) relating to the new Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Alternative Payment Models (APMs) will be published in the Federal Register. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) also launched a new website with tools and updates to help MIPS-eligible clinicians learn and prepare for participation in MIPS and APMs.
As we describe in our client alert titled “CMS Releases Final Rules on MACRA Quality Payment Program Implementation for 2017-Onward,” the Final Rule makes several significant changes to the MIPS and APM tracks of the “Quality Payment Program” as they were proposed in the notice of proposed rulemaking. We previously summarized the proposed rule in two previous alerts MACRA and MIPS: The Basics and Beyond and Medicare Quality Payment Program: Alternative Payment Models (APMs). When compared to the proposed rule, the Final Rule increases flexibility for eligible clinicians or groups to participate in MIPS by creating several “choose-your-own-pace” options that would allow them to avoid negative payment adjustments. The Final Rule also includes more value-based payment models that qualify as Advanced APMs.
Given the significant changes, the agency has published the Final Rule with a 60-day comment period for certain provisions that will end on December 19, 2016.