MACRA Resource Center

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CMS is implementing multiple flexibilities for the MIPS and APM tracks. If you are unable to participate in the 2020 QPP performance year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, submit an application to CMS by February 1, 2021 to avoid a 9% Medicare pay cut in 2022. For questions, contact the QPP Service Center at (866) 288-8292, or by email at QPP@cms.hhs.gov.

This resource center provides guidance and support to help you navigate the Quality Payment Program (QPP), avoid Medicare pay cuts, and earn incentives.

The QPP is an annual program by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that affects Medicare payment two years later. Under the QPP, physicians choose between the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and alternative payment model (APM) tracks as required by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA).

The objective of the program is to incentivize physicians to improve care, advance health care information, and reduce costs.

Physicians who participate in MIPS in 2020 will be paid fee-for-service with payment adjustments (+/-9%) in 2022 based on performance in four MIPS categories: quality, improvement activities, promoting interoperability, and cost.

Physicians who take part in an advanced APM in 2020 are exempt from MIPS and may earn a 5% incentive payment in 2022 for participating in an innovative payment model, in addition to APM-specific rewards.

To find out if you are eligible and required to participate in MIPS for the 2020 QPP performance year, check the QPP lookup tool. When you review your profile, take note of any designation assigned to you under “other reporting factors” (e.g., small practice, rural practice, health professional shortage area, facility-based) and learn what these factors mean to your practice. Physicians required to participate in the 2020 QPP must submit data to CMS by March 31, 2021. If you have questions about your participation status, contact the QPP Service Center at (866) 288-8292, or by email at QPP[at]cms[dot]hhs[dot]gov.

Review the full 2020 QPP timeline and stay on top of MIPS and APM deadlines, snapshots, and milestones.

TMA Practice Consulting offers quality improvement services to help prepare physician practices for MACRA. TMA's practice management consultants can conduct a MACRA readiness assessment of your practice and provide customized on-site assistance to help you with your practice's specific needs. 

The Physicians Advocacy Institute offers a MACRA QPP physician education initiative and separate resource center to make the program easier to understand. The website is free, designed for all levels of physician knowledge on the MACRA QPP, and complements TMA’s MACRA Resource Center. Visit the MACRA QPP Resource Center to access free resources and subscribe to the QPP Roundup newsletter.

TMF provides free guidance and support for all aspects of the MIPS track. TMF QPP experts help physicians understand MIPS reporting requirements and develop strategies to meet performance goals.

• Visit the TMF QPP Learning and Action Network
• Submit a request online
• Email TMF at:
  QPP-SURS[at]tmf[dot]org (15 or fewer clinicians) 

Call 1-844-317-7609 or live chat Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT, to speak with a TMF QPP consultant.