AAOS Registry Program Blog

Qualified Clinical Data Registries: Helping Orthopaedic Surgeons Document Payment Adjustments Under MIPS

Mar 7, 2018 12:00:00 PM

MIPS Positive and Negative Payment Adjustments Diagram

The American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR) became part of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) on October 17, 2017. As AAOS embarks on registry expansion and integration with the AJRR, they remain dedicated to improving the quality of musculoskeletal care that orthopaedic surgeons can deliver. Within this mission, the AJRR, the national hip and knee registry, has maintained a U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)-approved qualified clinical data registry (QCDR) since 2014. Now known as the AAOS Orthopaedic Quality Resource Center, this unit has been designated by CMS as a QCDR for 2018.

For orthopaedic surgeons, this means that the QCDR status can help eligible professionals (EPs) and group practices receive positive payment adjustments and avoid penalties under the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) component of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA).

The AAOS Orthopaedic Quality Resource Center is a collaboration between AJRR, the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS), the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA), and the American Orthopaedic Association's (AOA) Own the Bone program. The QCDR is held on a platform developed by Premier, Inc. This initiative marks the first year that AAOS has been involved in the expansion of the measures.

 

Learn more about the AAOS OPS List here.

 

"The AJRR is pleased to announce that the Orthopaedic Quality Resource Center has been designated as a QCDR once again for 2018," said AJRR Steering Committee Chair Kevin J. Bozic, MD, MBA.

"Our partnership with other orthopaedic organizations focused on improving value for patients has allowed us to offer a great resource for surgeons in past years. And now, with the support of AAOS, we can use their expertise to inform the measures our QCDR collects," he added.

AAOS QCDR Splash Page

The 2018 AAOS Orthopaedic Quality Resource Center will have 38 measures, including three AAHKS-sponsored hip and knee measures and the Academy's own 2017 Orthopaedic Preferred Specialty (OPS) List. The AOA's Own the Bone program has also provided measures that will remain as part of the platform. The 2017 OPS List's measures were selected because they are not burdensome to report and are highly relevant to the majority of orthopaedic surgeons. The AAOS QCDR can be used by EPs across all orthopaedic specialties.

QCDRs can submit quality data directly to CMS, an essential capability enabling surgeons to satisfy the requirements of the MIPS track of MACRA. There are a few situations that exclude orthopaedic surgeons from being eligible to meet MIPS, but most surgeons are expected either to participate or face a penalty on Medicare Part B claims. MIPS participants can earn either a positive or negative reimbursement. The payment adjustment percentages will increase each performance year, eventually becoming a 9 percent positive or negative payment adjustment on 2020 program year data. High performers in 2020 potentially will be able to earn a positive adjustment three times that, or 27 percent.

MIPS has four components, and three of them replace past CMS programs. The aligned programs include the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), Value-Based Modifier (VBM), and the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program, or Meaningful Use.

Resource Center Measures and Benefits That Matter to Qualified Clinical Data Registries

"CMS changed its QCDR application process, and organizations are now designated five months sooner," Dr. Bozic explained. "This gives more opportunities for surgeons to submit MIPS data, and therefore more chances to implement improvement in the value delivered to patients in a way that will benefit their practice and patients, and potentially result in financial remuneration. One of the Academy's primary goals is to facilitate high-value patient care among its members with patient outcome registries. The designation of the Orthopaedic Quality Resource Center will set the precedent for more progress to come."

For more information about the AAOS Orthopaedic Quality Resource Center, call an AJRR Business Development Representative at (847) 292-0530 or visit www.AJRR.net.

 

 

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Topics: Quality Initiatives

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This blog was created by the American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR), part of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons' (AAOS) registries portfolio. The blog is part of our commitment to improve orthopaedic care through the collection, analysis, and reporting of actionable hip and knee arthroplasty data. Our purpose is to communicate with others in the orthopaedic field who share the same commitment. Watch for weekly news alerts, quick tips, actionable checklists, best practices, and research findings posted to this blog. It will be information you can use each week!

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This Week's Blog

  • Wednesday, March 7, 2018 – Qualified Clinical Data Registries: Helping Orthopaedic Surgeons Document Payment Adjustments Under MIPS

 

This Week’s References

QCDR Designation 

A qualified clinical data registry (QCDR) is a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)-approved entity that collects medical and/or clinical data for the purpose of patient and disease tracking to foster improvement in the quality of care furnished to patients. QCDRs can submit quality data directly to CMS, an essential capability enabling surgeons to satisfy the requirements of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) track of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA).

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Orthopaedic Quality Resource Center

The AAOS Orthopaedic Quality Resource Center, a CMS-designated QCDR, is a collaboration between the American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR) which is part of the AAOS' registries portfolio, the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS), the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA), and the American Orthopaedic Association's (AOA) Own the Bone program. The QCDR is held on a platform developed by Premier, Inc. It can assist eligible professionals (EPs) and group practices with receiving positive payment adjustments and avoiding penalties under the MIPS component of MACRA. A designated QCDR since 2014, it was formerly called the AJRR Orthopaedic Quality Resource Center. Register for the AAOS Orthopaedic Quality Resource Center today!

MIPS Component of MACRA

A QCDR provides a standard to complete MIPS requirements based on satisfactory participation. MIPS is a component of MACRA.

 

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AJRR Blog posts are researched and created by AJRR staff writers: Karen Metropulos, Erik Michalesko, and Lori Boukas. If you would like to contact the writing staff, email us at AJRRinfo@aaos.org

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This blog shares health care information from a variety of independent expert sources. Some sources offer opinions that may be of interest to other professionals facing similar challenges. Our approach helps ensure diverse, well-rounded presentation of important, often complex health care content. Shared content does not necessarily represent AJRR or AAOS findings and practices.