You have some flexibility in the Quality Payment Program. In 2017, there are three ‘Pick Your Pace’ options: test, partial pace, and full pace. You can also choose not to participate in MIPS.
Here are the “Pick Your Pace” details:
Test Participation: For the 2017 transition year, all MIPS eligible clinicians have a “test” option. If you choose this option, all you have to do is submit a minimum amount of 2017 data, such as one measure under the Quality category or one activity in the Improvement Activities category, which meet minimum program requirements. If you choose the test option, you’ll avoid a negative payment adjustment in 2019.
Partial Participation: If you were not ready to start collecting your performance data on January 1, 2017, you can choose to start any time before October 2, 2017. Whenever you choose to start, you’ll need to send your performance data to Medicare between January 1 – March 31, 2018, depending on your chosen data submission option. If you choose to partially participate, you should submit a minimum of 90 continuous days of 2017 data for the required number of measures and activities in the Quality, Improvement Activities, and Advancing Care Information performance categories to get a higher performance score, which could allow you to and earn a neutral or small positive payment adjustment. The 2019 MIPS payment adjustment won’t be based on the Cost performance category.
Full Participation: For full participation, you had to start collecting your performance data on January 1, 2017. You’ll need to submit data from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2017 (the entire year) for the required number of measures and activities in the Quality, Improvement Activities, and Advancing Care Information performance categories. This data may help you earn a higher performance score, which could allow you to earn a neutral or small positive payment adjustment.
If you report a year’s worth of data, your data is likely to be more reliable and you may be more able to get bonus points. This means a better chance to get higher scores.
If you don’t participate or submit any data for 2017, then your MIPS final score will be zero points and you’ll receive a negative 4% reduction to your 2019 Medicare Part B payments.