Proposed SGR fix revamps Meaningful Use program

The proposed legislation to repeal the Medicare sustainable growth rate (SGR), the method currently used to compensate participating physicians, would mean significant change for the Meaningful Use incentive program. A bipartisan team of U.S. House and Senate negotiators reached a deal this week to repeal the SGR, but the legislation still requires approval of both chambers. The proposed legislation establishes a streamlined incentive payment program, called the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), which consolidates the Meaningful Use Program, the Physician Quality Reporting System and the Value-Based Modifier. MIPS will assess the performance of eligible professionals (EPs) in four categories: quality, resource use, EHR Meaningful Use and clinical practice improvement. EPs still will need to use a certified electronic health record. They'll receive a composite score in the four categories, and will potentially receive negative or positive payment adjustments. EPs participating in an alternative payment model (APM) and meeting those requirements will be excluded from the MIPS assessment and most EHR requirements. The payment adjustments for failing to meet the Meaningful Use requirements will sunset at the end of 2017. It is unclear whether this provision applies only to EPs. Read the full story at FierceEMR