Although MACRA (Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015), MIPS (Merit-based Incentive Payment System) and APMs (alternative payment models) have become common acronyms heard throughout hospitals and medical offices, the bureaucratic language and complex requirements of MACRA mystify many physicians. This article describes some of the essential elements for anesthesiologists to understand how reporting requirements will impact future Medicare payments.
Clinicians (physicians, physician assistants, nurse practi-tioners, clinical nurse specialists and CRNAs) are eligible to participate in the 2017 Quality Payment Program by MIPS if they bill Medicare more than $30,000 per year, have greater than 100 patients per year, are not in the first year of participation in Medicare and are not in an advanced APM. Clinicians who are included in MIPS by these criteria and do not report will receive a payment penalty. You can check your eligibility by entering your National Provider Identifier to the CMS...
