Monday Morning Rounds with CMS

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Posted By: HHS/ONC/CMS Communications May 22, 2023

ICYMI, here is recent communication from CMS.

Events

This week!

MIPS News

Reminder: 2023 MIPS Value Pathway (MVP) Registration is Open
The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Value Pathways (MVPs) registration window is open for the 2023 performance year. Individuals, groups, subgroups, and Alternative Payment Model (APM) Entities that wish to report an MVP can register until November 30, 2023, at 8 p.m. ET. For the 2023 performance year, MVPs are a new, voluntary way to meet MIPS reporting requirements. Each MVP includes a subset of measures and activities that are related to a specialty or medical condition to offer more meaningful participation in MIPS.

  • Visit Explore MVPs to review the available MVPs finalized for the 2023 performance year.
  • Not sure how you’ll report for MIPS in 2023? You can learn more about the MVP reporting option on the QPP website.

News

The Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program Hardship Exception Application for Eligible Hospitals and CAHs is Now Available
On May 1, the CMS opened the Hardship Exception application period for eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals that participated in the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program in calendar year 2022.

Application Details
The deadline to submit a Hardship Exception application for the CY 2022 reporting period is July 31, 2023 for eligible hospitals and September 30, 2023 for CAHs. More information on the Medicare Hardship Exception application can be found here (PDF). Medicare eligible hospitals and CAHs may submit their Hardship Exception application using the Hospital Quality Reporting (HQR) system. Previously registered users should already have account access, and new users can sign up by selecting “Register” to create a new account.

Now Open: Measure Proposals for the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program
CMS Annual Call for Measures for eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals participating in the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program is now open. Participants can submit a measure proposal by July 1, 2023. Proposals submitted by the deadline will be considered for inclusion in future rulemaking.

Submit Your Feedback on Proposed Changes to the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program
On April 10, 2023, CMS issued the Fiscal Year 2024 Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems (IPPS) for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital (LTCH) Prospective Payment System (PPS) proposed rule.

Submit a Formal Comment
Comments on the FY 2024 IPPS and LTCH PPS proposed rule are due no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on June 9, 2023. The public can submit comments in several ways:

  • Electronically (through the “submit a comment” instructions on the Federal Register); or
  • By regular, express, or overnight mail.

Now Available: Updated eCQM Specifications and Implementation Resources for 2024 Reporting/Performance Period
CMS has posted the electronic clinical quality measure (eCQM) specifications for the 2024 reporting/performance period for: Eligible Hospitals (EH) and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR), and Eligible Clinician (EC) quality reporting programs. CMS updates the specifications annually to align with current clinical guidelines and code systems so they remain relevant and actionable within the clinical care setting. Measures will not be eligible for 2024 reporting unless and until they are proposed and finalized through notice-and-comment rulemaking for each applicable program.

Where to Find the Updated eCQM Specifications and Implementation Resources
The updated eCQM specifications are available on the Electronic Clinical Quality Improvement eCQI Resource Center (eCQI RC) for EH/CAH, OQR, and EC pages under the 2024 Reporting/Performance Period. Other resources, including the Guide for Reading eCQMs, eCQM Logic and Implementation Guidance, tables of eCQMs, and technical release notes, are also available on the eCQM Resources tabs on the Eligible Clinician, Eligible Hospital, and OQR pages.

Now Available: 2024 CMS QRDA I Implementation Guide, Schematron, and Sample Files for Hospital Quality Reporting
CMS has published the 2024 CMS Quality Reporting Document Architecture (QRDA) Category I Implementation Guide (IG), Schematron, and Sample Files for Hospital Quality Reporting (HQR). The 2024 CMS QRDA I IG outlines requirements for eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) to report electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs) for the calendar year 2024 reporting period for the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting (IQR) Program, the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program, and the Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR) Program.

Quality Payment Program

CMS Now Accepting 2023 MIPS Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Exception and MIPS Promoting Interoperability Performance Category Hardship Exception Applications
The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances (EUC) Exception and MIPS Promoting Interoperability Performance Category Hardship Exception applications are now available for the 2023 performance year. Applications can be submitted until 8 p.m. ET on January 2, 2024.

Administrative Simplification

MLN Matters Articles

Claims, Pricers, & Codes

CMS Innovation Center