TurboPT is ready for MIPS Quality Reporting
Providers who wish to submit quality measures for CMS's Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) can already enter these measures in TurboPT. As a rehab therapist you are an "eligible professional" under MIPS. While therapists are not expected to submit MIPS data, you are able to voluntarily participate now and TurboPT already gives you the ability to do so.
MIPS for Physical Therapy
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed, as part of the physician fee schedule, to require many PTs in private practice to participate in the QPP program through either MIPS or advanced APMs. Additionally, CMS has proposed to allow certain other PTs and physical therapy practices to opt into the program, enabling them to earn incentive payments and to prepare for participation in APMs.
Due to the fact that this is a proposed measure there are no guidelines for physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists.
Currently they are still not eligible to officially participate in the quality reporting initiative.
PQRS is Dead
As of January 1, 2017, CMS discontinued the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS). MIPS is the replacement for PQRS and there are substantial similarities between the programs in that they will continue to require the reporting of quality measures. Currently, the Quality Measures category of MIPS accounts for a significant portion of a MIPS Final score.
Why is MIPS Replacing PQRS and What Else Does it Do?
Quality
Resource Use
Clinical Practice Improvement Activities
Advancing Care Information
- MIPS streamlines three previously independent programs — PQRS, the Value-Based Payment Modifier (VM), and the Medicare Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Program — into one, with the goal of easing the burden on the clinician.
- Adds a fourth component to promote improvement and clinical innovation.
- Provides greater flexibility to choose activities and measures that demonstrate performance in a way that is more meaningful for an individual practice.
MIPS Performance Categories and Composite Score
A single MIPS composite performance score (CPS) takes into account four weighted categories on a 0-100 point scale. Notably, for the quality measures that account for a large share of the CPS, therapists are able to choose the measures on which they'll be evaluated.
- Quality
- Clinical Practice Improvement Activities
- Advancing Care Information
- Cost
How MIPS Adjusts Payments to Your Practice
Based on the MIPS Composite Performance Score, therapists receive positive, negative, or neutral adjustments to their payments for Medicare Part B.
The potential maximum adjustment percentage increases each year the program is in effect.
Current Available Quality Measures in TurboPT
Due to the emphasis on quality measures in the MIPS Composite Performance Score, TurboPT already allows you to report on the following quality measures:
- Measure 126: Diabetes Mellitus: Diabetic Foot and Ankle Care
- Measure 127: Diabetes Mellitus: Diabetic Foot and Ankle Care, Ulcer Prevention
- Measure 128: Preventive Care and Screening: Body Mass Index (BMI) Screening and Follow-Up Plan
- Measure 130: Documentation of Current Medications in the Medical Record — National Quality Strategy Domain: Patient Safety
- Measure 131: Pain Assessment and Follow-Up
- Measure 154: Falls: Risk Assessment — Patient
- Measure 155: Falls: Plan of Care
- Measure 182: Functional Outcome Assessment
In addition, if you are using the PTOutcome registry (APTA MIPS Registry), TurboPT has integration options available.
How the TurboPT Patient Portal Can Help You Track Clinical Practice Improvement Activity
The MIPS Clinical Practice Improvement Activity Performance Category requires a minimum selection of one activity from a list of proposed activities. Examples include coordination of care, shared decision-making, safety checklists, and expanding practice access.
TurboPT gives our clients the ability to sign patients up for the TurboPT patient portal. This allows our clients to conduct patient follow-up and track improvement activities to evaluate how patients are progressing after therapy has been completed.
If you are a current TurboPT customer, please contact support at 800-628-5844 to sign up for portal access.