Reminder: Submit QPP Exception Applications by 1/3; Electronic Prescribing for Controlled Substances Update

CMS Accepting 2022 MIPS Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Exception and MIPS Promoting Interoperability Performance Category Hardship Exception Applications CMS to Require Electronic Prescribing for Controlled Substances Covered Through Medicare Part D Beginning January 1, 2023 CMS Accepting 2022 MIPS Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Exception and MIPS Promoting Interoperability Performance Category Hardship Exception Applications The MIPS Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Exception and MIPS Promoting Interoperability Performance Category Hardship Exception applications are open for the 2022 performance year. Applications can be submitted until 8 p.m. ET on January 3, 2022. MIPS Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances (EUC) Exception Application Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligible clinicians, groups, and virtual groups may apply to reweight any or all MIPS performance categories if they've been affected by extreme and uncontrollable circumstances. Extreme and uncontrollable circumstances are defined as rare events entirely outside of your control and the control of the facility in which you practice. These circumstances must: Cause you to be unable to collect information necessary to submit for a MIPS performance category; Cause you to be unable to submit information that would be used to score a MIPS performance category for an extended period of time (for example, if you were unable to collect data for the quality performance category for 3 months), and/or; Impact your normal process, affecting your performance on cost measures and other administrative claims measures. NOTE: We continue to use our EUC exception policy to allow clinicians, groups, virtual groups, and Alternative Payment Model (APM) Entities to submit an application requesting reweighting of performance categories for the 2022 performance year due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. For APM Entities APM Entities participating in MIPS APMs can also submit a MIPS EUC Exception Application. However, the following differences exist for APM Entities from the MIPS EUC exception policy for individuals, groups, and virtual groups: APM Entities are required to request reweighting for all performance categories. Additionally, at least 75% of an APM Entity's MIPS eligible clinicians must qualify for reweighting in the Promoting Interoperability performance category. Data submission for an APM Entity won't override performance category reweighting. Learn more in the 2022 MIPS Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Exception Application Guide (PDF). MIPS Promoting Interoperability Performance Category Hardship Exception Applications MIPS eligible clinicians, groups, and virtual groups may apply to reweight the Promoting Interoperability performance category to 0% if they: Have decertified Electronic Health Record (EHR) technology; Have insufficient Internet connectivity; Face extreme and uncontrollable circumstances such as a disaster, practice closure, severe financial distress, or vendor issues; or Lack control over the availability of certified EHR technology (CEHRT); simply lacking the required CEHRT doesn't qualify you for reweighting. NOTE: You don't need to apply for this application if you qualify for automatic reweighting of the Promoting Interoperability performance category based on your clinician type or special status. As a reminder, small practices qualify for automatic reweighting beginning with the 2022 performance year. Refer to page 16 of the 2022 MIPS Promoting Interoperability User Guide (PDF) for a complete list of clinician types and special statuses that qualify for automatic reweighting in the 2022 performance year. Learn more in the 2022 MIPS Promoting Interoperability Hardship Exception Application Guide (PDF). How do I Apply? You must have a Health Care Quality Information System (HCQIS) Access Roles and Profile (HARP) account to complete and submit an exception application on behalf of yourself, or another MIPS eligible clinician, group, virtual group or APM Entity. For more information on HARP accounts, please refer to the Register for a HARP Account document in the QPP Access User Guide (ZIP). Once you register for a HARP account, sign in to the QPP website, select 'Exceptions Applications' on the left-hand navigation, select 'Add New Exception,' and select 'Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Exception' or 'Promoting Interoperability Hardship Exception.' How do I Know if I'm Approved? You'll be notified by email if your request was approved or denied. You can also check the status of your application by signing into the QPP website and navigating to Exceptions. If approved, this information will also be added to your eligibility profile in the QPP Participation Status Tool on a rolling basis. If your application is approved at the end of the performance year, it may not appear in the QPP Participation Status Tool until the submission window is open in 2023.   CMS to Require Electronic Prescribing for Controlled Substances Covered Through Medicare Part D Beginning January 1, 2023 In compliance with Section 2003 of the SUPPORT Act, beginning January 1, 2023, providers must transmit prescriptions for controlled substances electronically for Medicare Part D beneficiaries.   Section 2003 of the SUPPORT Act mandates that a health care practitioner transmit a prescription for a Part D drug under a prescription drug plan (or under an MA–PD plan) for a Schedule II, III, IV, or V controlled substance electronically in accordance with an electronic prescription drug program.    To promote compliance, apply penalties, and support a waiver process, CMS has established the Electronic Prescribing for Controlled Substances (EPCS) Program. This CMS program is separate from any state EPCS program.  What is required?  The CMS EPCS Program applies to:   Schedule II, III, IV, and V controlled substances prescriptions under Medicare Part D.   Any prescriber who issues more than 100 qualifying controlled substance prescriptions in a calendar year.   Prescribers are required to transmit electronically at least 70 percent of their Schedule II, III, IV, and V prescriptions for controlled substances for patients with Medicare Part D within a calendar year, except in cases where an exception or an approved waiver applies.    Prescribers must follow Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) guidance for EPCS. More information about the DEA requirements for EPCS can be found at https://deadiversion.usdoj.gov/ecomm/e_rx/.  Are there exceptions?  Prescribers will be exempt from, or particular prescriptions will not be considered for purposes of determining compliance with, this requirement in the following situations:  Prescriptions for controlled substances issued when the prescriber and dispensing pharmacy are the same entity.  Prescribers who issue 100 or fewer qualifying Part D controlled substance prescriptions in the calendar year.    Prescribers who CMS determines are in the geographic area of an emergency or disaster declared by a Federal, State, or local government entity.  Prescribers who receive a CMS-approved waiver because the prescriber is unable to conduct electronic prescribing of controlled substances due to circumstances beyond the prescriber's control.     Compliance actions for prescriptions for beneficiaries in long-term care (LTC) will begin January 1, 2025.  How will CMS determine compliance?  CMS will analyze Medicare Part D claims and use the prescriber's National Provider Number (NPI) to measure compliance after the end of each calendar year, allowing time for claims submission and processing. After the EPCS compliance analysis is complete for the 2023 EPCS measurement year, CMS will send a notice of non-compliance to prescribers violating the EPCS mandate. Notices will be sent by e-mail when possible, to available e-mail addresses in the Medicare Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS) and the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), and by regular mail if there is no e-mail address in PECOS or NPPES. CMS strongly recommends that all prescribers keep their e-mail address accurate and up to date in both systems.  CMS will monitor the EPCS program to determine if future non-compliance penalties should be expanded.  Why e-prescribe controlled substances?  EPCS offers many benefits to patients, providers, and pharmacies. These benefits include:  Improved patient safety and satisfaction  Workflow efficiencies   Fraud deterrence  Improved medication adherence  Reduced burden  What EPCS support resources are available?  CMS is committed to providing support and resources to clinicians included in the EPCS Program:   The EPCS website will provide a centralized location for resources and updates for clinicians.   The EPCS listserv will provide general updates on the EPCS Program as they are available and upcoming program deadlines; prescribers can sign up at CMS Listserv. The EPCS Service Center will serve as the primary point of contact to help address program questions.     You're getting this message because you subscribed to get email updates from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This email was sent to edwardlorilla1986.paxforex@blogger.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud 7500 Security Boulevard · Baltimore MD 21244