MACRA Final Rule Published Sooner Than Expected

MACRA Final Rule Published Sooner Than Expected

Some experts believed the Final Rule of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) would be published on or about November 1st, 2016, while others expected the MACRA rule to be slightly delayed. The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) had other ideas the MACRA Final Rule was published Friday, October 14th, 2016.

According to the announcement, a common theme HHS received from comments and engagements from the public, and guidance from Congress, was the need for flexibility, simplicity, and support for small practices. HHS Secretary, Sylvia M. Burwell, said "Designed with input from thousands of clinicians and patients across the country, the new Quality Payment Program will strengthen our health care system for patients, clinicians and the American taxpayer."

Just like the proposed rule, the MACRA Final Rule includes two paths clinicians and groups can choose from:

  • Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS)
  • Advanced Alternative Payment Models (Advanced APMs)

The provisions of the final rule, with comment period, are effective on January 1, 2017.

Your doctors and other clinicians may begin participating in MIPS January 1st, so be prepared and understand how and why your practice should participate in 2017.

How we can help

HCP will be hosting a webinar on November 17th, 2016 to discuss the MACRA Final Rule (including MIPS) and how it will impact your practice. Learn the different implementation timeframes and scoring methodologies used in 2017.

HCP will also be publishing a follow-up white paper discussing how a MIPS implementation can be mitigated and the specific challenges we can help your practice overcome.

In the meantime, if you have any questions please feel free to reach us by phone 855-427-0427, or by email [email protected].