The Components of the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System

The passage of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act in Apri 2015 set the stage for the Part B reimbursement changes set to take place in 2019 based on the 2017 reporting period in relation to performance within core Medicare initiatives through the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) These changes will reflect the new "fee-for-performance" approach to reimbursements through individualized changes to an individual or practice group's conversion factor used in the RVU reimbursement calculation. The metrics being used as a basis for eligible provider competitive ranking for either positive or negative reimbursement changes are in proportion to performance on chosen Physician Quality Reporting System measures, value-based payment modifier calculations, compliance with Modified Stage 2 or Stage 3 Meaningful Use as part of the Electronic Health Record Incentive Program, and ongoing participation in clinical practice improvement activities. This article describes the core elements that make up MIPS and discusses the likely criteria that will be used as the core elements necessary for competitive reimbursement rankinq.