The American College of Radiology (ACR) has prepared a detailed summary describing the implications of the calendar year (CY) 2019 Quality Payment Program (QPP) final rule for the third transition year.
The analysis will help guide physicians to begin participation in either the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) or Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs).
The third transition year increases the potential MIPS payment adjustments to +/-7% for payment year 2020, according to the CY 2019 Final Rule. Additionally, CMS describes changes to policies for implementation of the third year including expansion of the cost category to 15 percent, required use of the 2015 CERT and the implementation of facility-based measures.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services also will add a third criterion for determining MIPS eligibility with respect to the low-volume threshold.
These policies go into effect Jan. 1, 2019.