The proposed law would create a “Merit-Based Incentive Payment System” (MIPS) that would consolidate three existing incentive programs, continuing the focus on quality, resource use, and meaningful electronic health record (EHR) use with which professionals are familiar but in a cohesive program that avoids redundancies.
As has been widely reported in the healthcare press, on Thursday U.S. House and Senate negotiators announced they have reached agreement on legislation to repeal the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate Formula. The Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce committees worked together on the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act. If passed by Congress and signed by President Obama, it could have a significant impact on the federal EHR incentive program and other quality reporting efforts.
