Deadlines are fast approaching if you plan to submit data for the 2017 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) performance period. Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your data.  Submit early and often. The two key dates are:

• March 16 at 8 pm Eastern time for group reporting via the CMS web interface
• March 31 for all other MIPS reporting, including via qpp.cms.gov

Now is the time to act. Here are the top 10 things you need to do and know if you are an eligible clinician. This list focuses on reporting via the qpp.cms.gov data submission feature, not on group reporting on via the CMS Web Interface and not on individual reporting on Quality measures via claims submission data. 

Note: If you’re not sure if you are required to report for MIPS, enter your National Provider Identifier (NPI) in the MIPS Lookup Tool to find out whether you need to report. Additionally, if you know you are in a MIPS APM or Advanced APM, you can use the APM Lookup Tool.   

1. Visit qpp.cms.gov and click on the “Sign-In” tab to use the data submission feature. 
2. Check that your data are ready to submit. You can submit data for the Quality, Improvement Activities, and Advancing Care Information performance categories.  
3. Have your CMS Enterprise Identity Management (EIDM) credentials ready, or get an EIDM account if you don’t have one. An EIDM account gives you a single ID to use across multiple CMS systems.
4. Sign in to the Quality Payment Program data submission feature using your EIDM account.  
5. Begin submitting your data early. This will give you time to familiarize yourself with the data submission feature and prepare your data. 
6. The data submission feature will recognize you and connect your NPI to associated Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs). 
7. Group practices:  -- A practice can report as a group or individually for each eligible clinician in the practice. You can switch from group to individual reporting, or vice versa, at any time. -- The data submission feature will save all the data you enter for both individual eligible clinicians and a group, and CMS will use the data that results in a higher final score to calculate an individual MIPS-eligible clinician’s payment adjustment. 
   
   
8. You can update your data up to the March 31 deadline. The data submission feature doesn’t have a “save” or “submit” button. Instead, it automatically updates as you enter data. You’ll see your initial scores by performance category, indicating that CMS has received your data. If your file doesn’t upload, you’ll get a message noting that issue.  
   
   
9. You can submit data as often as you like. The data submission feature will help you identify any underperforming measures and any issues with your data. Starting your data entry early gives you time to resolve performance and data issues before the March 31 deadline.
   
   
10. For step-by-step instructions on how to submit MIPS data, check out this video and fact sheet.  

If you are in an ACO or other APM, make sure you are working with your ACO or APM to make sure they have any patient information they need to report.  Remember you need to report on Advancing Care Information measures on your own. 

Questions about your participation status or MIPS data submission? Contact the Quality Payment Program Service Center by:

• Email: qpp@cms.hhs.gov

Phone: 1-866-288-8292 (TTY: 1-877-715-6222) 

Southern Tier Lyme Support, Inc and Binghamton University are offering 5.5 CME credits through Upstate Medical to physicians (MD and DO) at this years Southern Tier Lyme Conference. 

Registration for the May 5th conference at Binghamton University will open for medical professionals starting 2/15/2018 at www.southerntierlymesupport.org.  The cost of the conference is $75 for physicians and $5 for all other medical professionals and the public.

Thursday March 29, 2018
7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Hyatt Regency
125 E. Main St.
Rochester, NY 14604

For more information and to register: www.starrochester.com 

Agenda highights advances in regional systems of care for stroke patients

Who Should Attend
This activity is intended for primary care physicians, internists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, emergency physicians, family physicians, radiologists, cardiologists, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and EMS personnel who care for patients with cerebrovascular disorders

Objectives
At the conclusion of this activity participants should be able to:

• Discuss key challenges in the prehospital care and management of acute stroke in both the ambulance and ED. 
  
• Identify and describe key risk factors in the treatment of stroke and protocols specific to NYS designated Stroke Centers. 
  
• Describe the indications and contradictions for dual anti-platelet therapy for secondary stroke prevention. 
  
• Describe the latest surgical & endovascular treatments for stroke patients. 
  
• Describe the role and importance of neuro-intensive care in stroke recovery
  

Fees 

$100 early registration, $150 after March 16th, 

Students: $50 early registration, $75 after March 16th

MCMS President Peter Ronchetti, MD discusses how prior authorizations requests from payers are costly and delay patient care. http://on.rocne.ws/2DVct4R  

Albany Report_Jan18.pdf

Attached is the latest issue of MLMIC’s The Albany Report, which  offers policyholders a concise, insiders’ view of pending legislative, regulatory, and political developments that have an impact on the New York State medical malpractice insurance marketplace. Highlights from this issue include:

EXPANSION OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS – The governor has 30 days to decide the fate of a bill that would modify and expand the statute of limitations in cases of negligent failure to diagnose a malignant tumor or cancer.

MLMIC AFFIRMATIVE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA – As an advocate of tort reform, MLMIC is in support of legislation in three specific areas.

PROPOSED EXECUTIVE BUDGET – A look at how the governor’s proposed 2018-19 executive budget impacts the medical malpractice market.

CMS Launches New Data Submission System on QPP.CMS.GOV for Clinicians in the Quality Payment Program

On Tuesday, January 2, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a new data submission system for clinicians participating in the Quality Payment Program. Clinicians can now submit all of their 2017 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) data through one platform on the qpp.cms.gov website. Data can be submitted and updated any time from January 2, 2018 to March 31, 2018, with the exception of CMS Web Interface users who will have a different timeframe to report quality data from January 22, 2018 to March 16, 2018.  Clinicians are encouraged to log-in early to familiarize themselves with the system.

How to Login to the Quality Payment Program Data Submission System

To login and submit data, clinicians will use their Enterprise Identity Management (EIDM) credentials.

• The EIDM account provides CMS customers with a single user identification they can use to access many CMS systems.
• The system will connect each user with their practice Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). Once connected, clinicians will be able to report data for the practice as a group, or for individual clinicians within the practice.
• To learn about how to create an EIDM account, see this user guide.

Real-Time Scoring

As data is entered, clinicians will see real-time initial scoring within the MIPS performance categories. Data is automatically saved and clinician records are updated in real time. This means a clinician can begin a submission, leave without completing it, and then finish it at a later time without losing the information.

Payment Adjustment Calculations

Payment adjustments will be calculated based on the last submission or submission update that occurs before the submission period closes on March 31, 2018.

Determining Eligibility

There are two eligibility look-up tools available to confirm a clinician s status in the Quality Payment Program. Clinicians who may be included in MIPS should check their National Provider Identifier (NPI) in the MIPS Participation Status Tool, which will be updated with the most recent eligibility data, to confirm whether they are required to submit data under MIPS for 2017. For clinicians who know they are in an MIPS APM or Advanced APM, CMS is working to improve the Qualifying APM Participant (QP) Look-up Tool to include eligibility information for Advanced APM and MIPS APM participants. We anticipate sharing this updated tool in January 2018.

For More Information

To learn more about the Quality Payment Program data submission system, please review this fact sheet or view any of the following training videos:

1. Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Data Submission
2. Advancing Care Information (ACI) Data Submission for Alternative Payment Models (APMs)
3. Data Submission via a Qualified Clinical Data Registry and Qualified Registry

Visit qpp.cms.gov to explore measures and activities and to review guidance on MIPS, APMs, what to report, and more. 

Go to the Quality Payment Program Resource Library on CMS.gov to review Quality Payment Program resources.

Questions?

Contact the Quality Payment Program at QPP@cms.hhs.gov or 1-866-288-8292 (TTY: 1-877-715-6222).

01/17/2018 - Initial Summary of Proposed 2018-19 State Budget

QPP Reporting for Performance Year 2017 – An Introduction

Wednesday, January 17, 2018 | 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM EST

The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) allows clinicians to choose and report on measures/activities from three performance categories: Improvement Activities, Quality, and Advancing Care Information. This webinar will provide attendees with information on the QPP.gov reporting website and how to report collected data for the 2017 Performance Year.

Register here

Reporting Quality Data

Tuesday, January 30, 2018 | 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM EST

The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) allows clinicians to choose and report on measures/activities from three performance categories: Improvement Activities, Quality, and Advancing Care Information. This webinar will provide attendees with information on the QPP.gov reporting website and how to report collected data for the Quality performance category.

Register here

The Medical Society of the State of New York is pleased to announce its January free Continuing Medical Education (CME) webinars.  Participation in the webinars will earn physicians one CME credit free of charge. The January schedule is as follows:

January 17^th at 7:30am - Medical Matters:  Mental Health and Disasters Overview
Register for this webinar here. 
Faculty: Craig Katz, MD
Educational Objectives:

• Explore the psychological impact of mass trauma.
• Provide physicians with a strong background on both the psychological symptoms and syndromes specific to mass trauma.
• Prepare physicians to conduct acute assessments and interventions. 

January 22^nd at 7:30am - Current Concepts in Concussion for Pediatric and Adult Patients
Register for this webinar here.
Faculty: Deborah Light, MD
Educational Objectives:

• Identify signs and symptoms indicative of concussion as well as red flags that indicate alternate or more severe pathology;
• Outline an appropriate management plan for a patient presenting with concussion including a return to “normal life" protocol;
• Describe methods for the primary and secondary prevention of concussion;
• Identify patients who would benefit from referral to a concussion specialist 

January 30^th at 7:30am - Veterans Matters:  PTSD & TBI in Veterans
Register for this webinar here.
Faculty: Emerald Lin, MD

Educational Objectives:

• Identify signs and symptoms of PTSD & TBI
• Examine evidence-based treatment modalities for PTSD & TBI
• Explore military culture and methods to overcome unique barriers to treatment intrinsic to military culture

To view all of MSSNY’s scheduled programs, click here and select “Upcoming”. 

The Medical Society of the State of New York is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. 

The Medical Society of the State of New York designates each of these live activities for a maximum of 1.0 AMA/PRA Category 1 credits™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

Additional information or assistance with registration may be obtained by contacting Melissa Hoffman at mhoffman@mssny.org.

UNDERSTANDING ADOLESCENT & YOUNG ADULT (AYA) CANCER
A FREE workshop for healthcare providers. Click here for flyer.

JANUARY 26, 2018
8:30 AM - NOON

AL SIGL COMMUNITY OF AGENCIES
1000 ELMWOOD AVE. (DOOR 1)
ROCHESTER, NY 14620
Call (585) 563-6221 to reserve your spot!

Participants will view the award-winning documentary, Until 20, followed by a distinguished panel discussion in order to: 

• Better understand the unique and multidimensional challenges facing AYAs
  
• Facilitate effective communication with AYAs about goals of care at end of life