An easier way to report data for QPP has arrived

Medicare is creating a one-stop shop for physicians and practices looking for an easier way to submit information to the Quality Payment Program (QPP).

Those participating in QPP can now submit all of their 2017 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) data through a single platform instead of having to visit multiple web sites. Data can be submitted and updated any time through March 31, unless your practice reports data through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Web Interface, which will accept quality data between Jan. 22 and March 16.

To login and submit data, physicians will use their Enterprise Identity Management (EIDM) credentials. After logging in, the system will connect each eligible participant to the Taxpayer Identification Number associated with their National Provider Identifier (NPI). Participants will be able to report data for the practice either as a group or on behalf of individuals within the group. To learn about how to create an EIDM account, see the user guide.

As physicians enter data, the system automatically saves the information and updates the physicians’ records in real time. This means a physician can begin a submission, exit the system, and then finish it later without losing any information. Also, eligible physicians will see real-time initial scoring within each of the MIPS performance categories based on their submissions. This scoring may change as the physician reports new data or uses quality measures that have not yet been benchmarked. Additionally, the performance category score will not initially recognize if the user is part of a qualifying Alternative Payment Model (APM) or has any other special status.

CMS encourages eligible physicians to log-in early and often to familiarize themselves with the system. Participants can update data at any time during the submission period. Once the submission period closes on March 31 (except for the CMS Web Interface, which ends on March 16), CMS will calculate each physician’s payment adjustment based on his or her last submission or submission update.

If you are unsure of your status in the QPP, there are several tools to use to find out. Physicians who may be required to submit data under MIPS for 2017 should check their NPI in the MIPS Participation Status Tool, which will be updated with the most recent eligibility data. For clinicians who know they are in either a MIPS APM or Advanced APM, CMS is working to improve the Qualifying APM Participant (QP) Look-up Tool. CMS anticipates sharing this updated tool later this month.

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

1. MIPS Data Submission

2. Advancing Care Information (ACI) Data Submission for APMs

3. Data Submission via a Qualified Data Registry and Qualified Registry

You can also visit the QPP page to explore measures and activities and to review guidance on MIPS, APMs, what to report, and more, and you can go to the Quality Payment Program Resource Library to review QPP resources.

Eligible clinicians who need assistance with the data submission system may contact the QPP by email at qpp@cms.hhs.gov or toll free at 1-866-288-8292. As noted, eligible clinicians have until March 31 to submit data for the 2017 transition year, unless they are part of a group reporting via the CMS Web Interface.

– Kent Moore, Senior Strategist for Physician Payment for the American Academy of Family Physicians