| cms_to_hold_physicians_harmless_from_2023_mips_penalties | CMS to Hold Physicians Harmless from 2023 MIPS Penalties | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2021/November_24/cms_to_hold_physicians_harmless_from_2023_mips_penalties | <div class="col-md-12">
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<h5>November 24, 2021</h5>
<h2>CMS to Hold Physicians Harmless from 2023 MIPS Penalties </h2>
<p>The Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services announced that it will again this year be granting automatic exceptions from reporting requirements for clinicians participating in Medicare quality reporting programs due to the ongoing disruptions the COVID-19 public health emergency is having on physician practices.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://qpp-cm-prod-content.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/1198/2020%20MIPS%20Automatic%20EUC%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances (EUC) Hardship Exception policy</a> will be automatically applied to all MIPS-eligible clinicians who do not submit any MIPS data for the 2021 performance period (2023 payment year). Physicians and group practices that haven't submitted any MIPS data do not need to take any additional action to qualify for the automatic exception. CMS will automatically identify and reweight all four MIPS performance categories to 0% and apply a neutral payment adjustment for the 2023 MIPS payment year.</p>
<p><strong>Important</strong>: If a physician or practice has submitted quality data codes on their 2021 Medicare claims, they will still need to file a 2021 MIPS hardship exception to avoid a 2023 payment adjustment and be exempt from the 2021 MIPS program. Exception applications can be submitted by signing in to <a href="https://qpp.cms.gov/">qpp.cms.gov</a> and clicking Exception Applications on the left-hand navigation.</p>
<p>For more detailed information on the automatic EUC policy and CMS announcement, <a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USCMS/bulletins/2fb9e8a">click here</a>.</p>
</div> | 11/24/2021 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| provider_relief_fund_reporting_grace_period_ends_nov_30 | Provider Relief Fund Reporting Grace Period Ends Nov. 30 | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2021/November_24/provider_relief_fund_reporting_grace_period_ends_nov_30 | <div class="col-md-12">
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<h5>November 24, 2021</h5>
<h2>Provider Relief Fund Reporting Grace Period Ends Nov. 30</h2>
<p>The 60-day grace period for the Provider Relief Fund Reporting Period 1 ends Nov. 30. Non-compliant physicians and providers still have time to complete their reporting requirements by submitting their report at the reporting portal by Nov. 30. Physicians who fail to meet this deadline will be required to return their Provider Relief Fund payments by Dec. 30.</p>
<p>By keeping your PRF payment, you attested to <a href="https://www.hrsa.gov/provider-relief/past-payments/terms-conditions">terms and conditions</a> which includes a requirement to report on the use of the payment to comply with the legal requirements of the CARES Act, which establishes that recipients of PRF payment must submit reports and maintain relevant documentation. </p>
<h3>What happens if I don't meet the Nov. 30 deadline? </h3>
<p>Non-compliant physicians and providers who fail to submit a completed report by the end of the 60-day grace period will be subject to further enforcement actions such as repayment or exclusion from receiving or retaining future PRF payments, including any applicable Phase 4/ARP rural payments.</p>
<h3>Next steps</h3>
<p>Physicians with outstanding reporting requirements should go to the <a href="https://prfreporting.hrsa.gov/">PRF reporting portal</a> and submit their report on use of funds no later than Nov. 30 at 11:59 pm ET, at which point you will be deemed in compliance with the reporting requirement.</p>
<p>After submitting your report, your organization should return any unused funds by Dec. 30, 2021. For more information on returning all or a portion of your payments via ACH or check, visit the <a href="https://prfreporting.hrsa.gov/">PRF reporting portal</a> or refer to the new <a href="https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/provider-relief/returning-funds-fact-sheet.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">returning funds fact sheet</a> for more details and instructions on returning funds to HRSA. </p>
<h3>Where can I find my payment information?</h3>
<p>Please check your banking records or ask your accountant. If you received your PRF payment by automated clearing house deposit, the addenda description will include *HHS.GOV*866-569-3522. The ACH settlement date is the day of the deposit. If you received and deposited a paper check, you will need the exact payment amount and the check number to register in the reporting portal.</p>
<h3>More information</h3>
<p>Several resources are also available to assist with submitting a report, including:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/provider-relief/prf-lost-revenues-guide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Lost revenues guide</a> </li>
<li>Learn the purpose of <a href="https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/provider-relief/patient-metrics-fact-sheet.pdf?">patient metrics</a> and how they help to measure the impact of PRF funds on various provider types</li>
<li>Understand <a href="https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/provider-relief/independent-audit-requirement-fact-sheet.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">audit requirements</a> for federal, non-federal, and commercial organizations</li>
<li>Learn what a parent organization is and how to complete <a href="https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/provider-relief/prf-parent-subsidiary-reporting-fact-sheet.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">parent subsidiary reporting</a></li>
</ul>
<p>For questions on reporting or how to return unused funds, you may call 866.569.3522, for TTY dial 711. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday.</p>
</div> | 11/24/2021 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| reminder_it_mandates_addressing_the_opioid_epidemic_effective_jan_1 | Reminder: IT Mandates Addressing the Opioid Epidemic Effective Jan. 1 | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2021/November_24/reminder_it_mandates_addressing_the_opioid_epidemic_effective_jan_1 | <div class="col-md-12">
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<h5>November 24, 2021</h5>
<h2>Reminder: IT Mandates Addressing the Opioid Epidemic Effective Jan. 1 </h2>
<p>Starting Jan. 1, two state IT mandates required by opioid-epidemic legislation <a href="https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2019-20/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Laws/Senate/5380-S.SL.pdf?q=20200227095305">Senate Bill 5380</a> from 2019 will go into effect: the prescription monitoring program integration mandate for practices with 10 or more prescribers, and one requiring the electronic prescribing of controlled substances. Below is a roundup of recent updates, including eligibility information on hardship waivers that the WSMA was instrumental in securing for the physician community.</p>
<h3>Prescription monitoring program integration </h3>
<p>Starting Jan. 1, the prescription monitoring program integration mandate for practices with 10 or more prescribers, as established by SB 5380, will go into effect. There are currently two ways to integrate a health care organization's electronic health record with the PMP: the state's health information exchange, OneHealthPort, and approved direct integration options, such as Bamboo Health's (formerly Appriss Health) PMP Gateway. <a href="[@]Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2021/September_24/getting_started_on_pmp_ehr_integration">Learn more about these options and how to get started.</a></p>
<h3>Electronic prescribing of controlled substance</h3>
<p>Another provision of SB 5380 requires electronic prescribing for controlled substances. At the request of the WSMA, Secretary of Health Umair Shah, MD, delayed the requirement until Jan. 1, 2022, due to the state's ongoing pandemic response and to align the mandate with a new Medicare EPCS requirement.</p>
<h3>Hardship waivers</h3>
<p>The Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission <a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/WADOH/2021/08/16/file_attachments/1907111/2117062pharmacydohprescribingauthorityelectronicwaiver103final.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">adopted rulemaking</a> to create a hardship waiver for the electronic prescribing mandate, which the WSMA was instrumental in securing on behalf of our members. The waiver will be available for those who can demonstrate an inability to comply with the mandate due to economic hardship, technological limitations, or other exceptional circumstances. The waiver forms are still in development.</p>
<p>The WSMA was also successful in securing a hardship waiver for practices facing economic or other difficulties to exempt them from the PMP integration requirement. <a href="[@]Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2021/October_22/exemption_eligibility_requirements_for_pmp_ehr_integration_mandate">Learn more about the rulemaking around the waiver-including eligibility requirements-recently finalized by the DOH</a>. The Washington State Department of Health has assured the WSMA that the waiver application will be short and straightforward. We will alert members as soon as the application is available.</p>
<p>Don't hesitate to reach out to the WSMA policy team at <a href="mailto:policy@wsma.org">policy@wsma.org</a> with questions.</p>
</div> | 11/24/2021 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |