Oncology practices across the country are currently implementing provisions of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), which established the Quality Payment Program (QPP). This is a transition year, meaning that practices are able to “Pick your Pace” for implementing the significant changes QPP is bringing to the process of reporting data to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). 

In 2017, practices only have to report one measure for one patient (submitted data must include at least one Medicare patient) in order to receive a neutral payment adjustment and avoid financial penalties in 2019. However, ASCO encourages practices to report on at least four measures to become fully acquainted with the system and ensure that CMS requirements are met. Practices that can report a bit more data may also try to earn a small positive payment adjustment in 2019.

Is your practice thinking about trying to earn a small positive payment adjustment? Here are the top five things you need to know:

1. Who: Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) practices, andindividual providers, that want to try to receive a small positive payment adjustment in 2019 for Medicare Part B services provided in 2017.
    
2. Why: Practices that can report more than the minimum amount of 2017 data may want to try to earn a small positive payment adjustment, instead of a neutral payment adjustment, in 2019.
    
3. What: Practices that report on at least 90 days of 2017 data, may earn a small positive payment adjustment, instead of a neutral payment adjustment, in 2019.
    
4. When: Practices must start accurately recording relevant data no later than Oct. 2, 2017 in order to have 90 days of 2017 data by the end of the year.
     
5. How: ASCO’s Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®) Qualified Clinical Data Registry (QCDR) is now available for 2017 reporting. Practices should express interest in participating ASAP via email to secure a spot.

Additional QPP resources and updates are available in ASCO’s online MACRA toolkit. Breaking cancer policy updates are available at ASCO in Action.