According to a new study by The Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute, “more than 80 percent of Medicare providers will face penalties for failing to meet quality thresholds if current performance trends continue.” As this statistic suggests, the authors of the study say it “spells trouble for providers as the bonus program is converted to penalties for failing to meet PQRS requirements this year.” Neurosurgeons certainly don’t want to fall into this 80 percent category, so pay close attention to what you need to do to avoid the pay cut!
Beginning in 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will apply a negative payment adjustment to eligible professionals who do not satisfactorily report data on quality measures for covered professional services. Here’s the rub: the clock starts ticking NOW and neurosurgeons need to successfully participate in the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) program in 2013 to avoid penalties in 2015. Fortunately, CMS has made it fairly easy to comply with the program requirements and physicians will only have to successfully report on one PQRS measure between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2013. The proposed criteria for satisfactorily reporting data on quality measures to avoid the 2015 PQRS payment adjustment is detailed in the 2013 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Final Rule.
All in all, the process to avoid the penalty is relatively simple, so it’s well worth it to take a look at the aforementioned reporting criteria to ensure you are successfully reporting. In the upcoming weeks, Neurosurgery Blog will post a “PQRS for Dummies” to ensure that neurosurgeons comply with this requirement.
