Groups can now register for the 2018 PQRS

Physician practices wanting to use the Group Practice Reporting Option (GPRO) to participate in the 2018 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) have until June 30 to register. If not, all providers within the group must report to PQRS as individuals or face a Medicare pay penalty in 2018.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) defines a “group” as a single Tax Identification Number (TIN) with two or more individual providers with National Provider Identifiers (NPIs) who have reassigned billing rights to the TIN. Groups can register using an Enterprise Identity Management (EIDM) account. CMS encourages users to create or modify existing EIDM accounts now to avoid delays. If you are unsure if someone in your group is already enrolled with the EIDM system, contact the QualityNet Help Desk. You will need the group’s TIN and name.

During registration, you will select your reporting method. Your choices are:
•    Qualified PQRS Registry
•    Electronic Health Record (EHR)
•    Qualified Clinical Data Registry (QCDR)
•    Web Interface (for groups with more than 25 providers)

Physicians wanting to report using the EHR or QCDR methods will need to be sure that their vendors meet the requirements for group reporting. Additionally, groups with between two and 99 eligible professionals (EPs) will need to decide if they want to supplement their reporting with the Consumer Assessment of Health Care Providers and Systems (CAHPS) for the PQRS survey. CAHPS is required for groups with 100 or more EPs.

All groups and solo physicians will be subject to the 2018 Value Modifier. Participation in the PQRS program will help you avoid the automatic downward payment adjustment for failure to satisfactorily report.

--Erin Solis is the regulatory compliance strategist for the American Academy of Family Physicians