Will New CMS Program Boost Medicare Quality Bonuses?

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) calls it a brand-new platform, while skeptics are saying it’s just the same-old structure with a fresh coat of paint. Either way, CMS is rolling out the Quality Payment Program, which it says will ease documentation requirements for physicians while also providing new opportunities to earn bonuses by providing quality care. Under the program, physicians can receive Medicare reimbursement by participating in either the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) or in the Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs). MIPS provides payments based on the physician’s reporting on a single set of quality measures that combines measures from earlier programs like the Physician Quality Reporting System and the Value-Based Payment modifier. Physicians who choose Advanced APMs would be paid based on their participation in newer payment models such as the Comprehensive Primary Care Plus model and the Next Generation Accountable Care Organization model. CMS Chief Medical Officer Patrick Conway, MD says physicians can earn more than 4% in incentive bonuses by promoting care coordination, patient engagement, and patient safety.