Implementation of Federal Incentive Programs

Physician Quality Reporting System (“PQRS”) Incentive Program

Since 2007, Medicare has offered a financial incentive to eligible professionals who participate in a voluntary quality reporting program. In addition to financial benefits, participants gain experience in managing quality initiatives in their practice and improving overall quality of care.  MMA has the expertise to implement PQRS programs in your physician practices.

Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program

The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) created an incentive program for eligible professionals who electronically submitted prescriptions through quality reporting systems.  Electronic prescribing (“e-prescribing”) is described as the computer-based generation, transmission and filling of a prescription through the use of a qualified system.  Currently, the e-prescribing program incentivizes eligible professional who successfully report to the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) and penalizes eligible professional who do not. MMA can assist you and your physicians in complying with this incentive.

Meaningful Use

Within the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), the Health Information and Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act provides incentive payments up to $44,000 to each eligible Medicare and Medicaid professional and hospitals.  To receive incentive payments professionals and hospitals must implement a certified EHR technology and achieve meaningful use.  The payment schedules and qualifications vary for Medicare and Medicaid.  Penalties for not demonstrating meaningful use will begin in 2015 at 1% of Medicare allowable charges and are projected to increase by 1% each year thereafter up to 5%. MMA can assist you in meeting meaning use requirements and avoiding future penalties.