On January 1, 2017, the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the Quality Payment Program (QPP)—integrating several Medicare legacy quality reporting programs, including the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), and affecting providers who bill Medicare Part B.
Under QPP, eligible clinicians can opt to participate in 1 of 2 tracks: the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) or advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs). As discussed in this space last spring,1,2 physical therapists (PTs) are not yet included in mandated reporting under MIPS, but they likely will be added in 2019. It is imperative, therefore, that PTs immediately begin preparing for the 2019 reporting year.