Are you getting ready for the MACRA Transition?
2017 is considered as transition period for the newly enacted Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Depending on performance, this new reform is about to either penalize or reward, or provide zero adjustment to providers’ reimbursement in the coming years.
Don’t miss MACRA Dates
Although it might outwardly appear that the financial impact of MACRA will be felt only after the beginning of 2019, it is better to understand that it may not be completely true. A maximum negative 4% adjustment penalty toward nonparticipation is possible to be slapped on those who happen to be eligible in 2017 but opt not to join an Advanced APM or submit data to MIPS. It is to be noted that for preventing penalty, it is essential to understand the eligibility needs and decide the best option for participation in 2017.
Goals of MACRA
The strategic goals for this new reform are listed below:
Improving practitioner experience by using easy to use tools
Enhancing engagement and outcomes using patient-centered MIPS and Advanced APM regulations
Promoting understanding about the program and maximizing participation
Increasing adoption and availability of Advanced APMs
Ensuring functional excellence in ongoing development and program implementation
Improving data sharing
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), nearly 500,000 practitioners are supposed to be eligible for participation in MIPS during the program’s first year. Performance metrics for the participants shall be submitted during March 2018. Negative or positive payment adjustments will be made on January 1, 2019.
MACRA – Mode of operation
Following two pathways are provided in this Quality Payment Program for rewarding delivery of high-quality patient care:
1. The Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS)
2. Advanced Alternative Payment Models (Advanced APMs)
MIPS Track
MIPS streamlines three of the previous pay-for-performance programs while adding another component for promoting the ongoing innovation and enhancement to clinical processes. These categories are listed below:
Quality
Resource Use
Clinical Practice Improvement Activities
Advancing Care Information
MIPS provides flexibility to clinicians for reporting measures and activities which demonstrate practice performance accurately.
Advanced APM Track
Clinicians will be able to earn favorable financial rewards under this track, by taking increased risk associated with patient outcomes. Practitioners who take part in Advanced APM can earn incentive payment bonus by following patient care improvement and taking additional risk. Advanced APM participation during 2017 enables 5% incentive payment bonus in 2019.
Choose your Track
Those who opt for MIPS may select any of the three tracks, namely, a ‘test run’, ‘participating category’, and ‘all in’. MIPS-eligible practitioners who prove to perform exceptionally will receive positive adjustment.
This may be the perfect option for those clinicians having certain portion of payments of patients channeled through an Advanced APM. Eligible practitioners will get 5% incentive payment annually from 2019 to 2024.
It is expected that more than 90% of MIPS-eligible practitioners will be receiving neutral or positive MIPS payment adjustment in the transition year. This includes 80% of clinicians in solo and small practices.
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Medical Transcription Arizona | What makes Emergency Room Reports Transcription Challenging?
Emergency rooms involve unpredictable scenarios and make things very challenging for ER physicians and staff – this reflects on their medical transcription service providers too!
How Emergency Room Reports Transcription differs from others
The major difference in E R reports is that they are almost based on variable factors while the patients’ conditions keep fluctuating. With condition of patients moving to different levels unexpectedly, not only the treating physicians but also the transcriptionists taking care of their reports need to be cautious and attentive on a constant basis.
Unique Features Expected in E R Reports Transcription
- Faster TAT
- Utmost care must to be exercised
- Professionals with experience to handle pressure are necessary
- Capability to handle dictation that may be complex and having considerable background noise
- Eye for detail
The role of the E R reports transcriptionist
Transcriptionists taking up the task of documenting Emergency Room reports of patients must have a pressure-resistant mindset that is vital to manage the challenges related to emergency room transcription service.
Major Challenges Involved in E R reports transcription
- E R doctors may speak with an unfamiliar or strong accent, making it inevitable for the transcriptionists to take a longer time than usual
- The pressure of working in E R may cause the physician’s dictation to be vague o r too fast – making it hard for the transcribing personnel
- Quality of recording may be affected by the unavoidable background noises that accompany E R reports
- E R room physicians may not use microphones for recording- making it tough for the transcriptionist
- Specialization of doctors in charge of the E R doesn’t fall under specific health care area – it may extend to life-threatening situations, advanced cardiac life support, and trauma care. Treatment and need for specialists may vary according to patient condition
- Transcriptionists dealing in E R reports must be well-versed in the terminology and procedures related to all such areas in medicine
- The transcripts must be effective and they need to support quick and perfect decision making
Why Numinatrans?
Numinatrans, with an industry experience of over 16 years, has been providing accurate and meaningful transcription solutions on emergency room reports documentation to global medical practices.
We offer quick and reliable TAT, the critical factor in emergency room reports transcription. Our services are completely HIPAA compliant and we assure total data confidentiality and security.