Published: June 1, 2016

Quality reporting for 2016

Now is the time to prepare for Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) reporting for calendar year 2016.


Now is the time to prepare for Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) reporting for calendar year 2016. There are many changes to requirements this year and the fines associated with failing to report are significant. Highlighted below are important considerations and information on reporting via RegentSM, a Qualified Clinical Data Registry (QCDR.)

For practitioners who still maintain paper charts, or who want to take advantage of the simplicity of reporting measures groups, RegentSM offers a solution. Make sure to read the July Bulletin for information on all of Regent’s measures and measures groups that will be available to you in 2016. Also, make sure to visit www.entnet.org/Regent as we will be updating this page frequently with RegentSM PQRS reporting resources.

Using RegentSM for PQRS 2016

RegentSM does all of the work for you if you are reporting as an individual or as a group, and depending on whether you choose to report individual measures or measures groups.

1. Know the penalties

Practice Type PQRS and Value Modifier Penalties
Solo practioners and
practices with 2-9 providers
-2% PQRS and -2%
Value Modifier = -4%
Practices with 10 or more providers -2% PQRS and -4%
Value Modifier = -6%

 

2. Decide how to report

RegentSM pilot sites

Advanced ENT & Allergy
Advanced ENT
Augusta ENT
Colorado ENT & Allergy
Dr. Steven Peskind, MD & Associates
Ear Nose & Throat Clinics of San Antonio
East Alabama Ear, Nose & Throat, P.C.
ENT and Allergy Associates
Hebert Medical Group
Oregon Health and Science University
Pinnacle Ear Nose & Throat Associates, LLC
Premier Medical Group
Select Physicians Alliance, PL
South Florida ENT
Southern New England ENT*
Texas Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists, P.A.
University of Alabama – Birmingham Hospital
University of Missouri Medical Center*
White Rock ENT

*Newly added

You may report either as an individual or as a group. Individuals may report individual measures or measures groups, while practice groups may report individual performance measures only.

If you decide to report as a group, first, understand your practice size as there are different CMS requirements depending upon how many Eligible Professionals (EPs) are in your group. Next, make sure to register with CMS if you plan to report as a group. For more information on group reporting and to self-nominate with CMS before the June 30, 2016 deadline, visit https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/PhysicianFeedbackProgram/Self-Nomination-Registration.html.

For practices of two to 99 EPs

NEW! Practices of two to 99 EPs participating via the Group Practice Reporting Option (GPRO) may report quality measures via RegentSM for the 2016 reporting period, and Reporting Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) for PQRS survey measures is optional.

For practices with 100 or more EPs

Groups with 100 or more EPs are also required to report the CAHPS for PQRS measures through a CMS-Certified Survey Vendor in addition to satisfactorily reporting PQRS measures via RegentSM. For more information on CAHPS for PQRS click here: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/PQRS/downloads/2016PQRS_CAHPS_MadeSimple.pdf.

3. Learn about Regent’s measures and measures groups

Visit www.entnet.org/Regent and click on the measures link in the right-hand navigation to view all of the measures contained in Regent.

As noted above, RegentSM is also able to accommodate measures group reporting. The measures groups are listed here: www.entnet.org/content/quality-measures-groups.

Get started

Visit www.entnet.org/Regent and sign up to learn more. Then, make sure all the physicians in your practice are AAO-HNS Members and up-to-date on dues payment with the AAO-HNS even if they choose not to participate in RegentSM. Nurses, physician assistants, audiologists, speech pathologists, and non-physician providers do not have to become AAO-HNS Members to participate. Dues payment for 2017 starts in October 2016. All Member dues must be paid by January 15, 2017, for participation in RegentSM. Stay tuned to your AAO-HNSF emails and watch for our full launch date, which is anticipated to be late summer 2016. Visit www.entnet.org/Regent.

PQRS reporting needs already addressed?

PQRS reporting is just the first phase of RegentSM. RegentSM is the first Otolaryngology Clinical Data Registry and will be growing to include measures covering the depth and breadth of the specialty. In the future and as measures are added, Members will be able to engage with RegentSM data for research, quality improvement, and meeting Maintenance of Certification and licensure needs. If your practice or institution cares about defining quality in practice and documenting the value of the care you provide, then you need to become part of RegentSM, even if you don’t need to report for PQRS.

 

 

 


More from June 2016 - Vol. 35, No. 05