COVID-19: News You Can Use March 22, 2020

CMS Delays 2019 MIPS Submission Deadline to April 30, 2020, Adds Hardship Exception for COVID-19; Provides Relief for 2019 Fourth Quarter ASC Quality Reporting

Today, CMS announced it would extend the deadline to submit 2019 MIPS data until April 30, 2020. In addition, CMS created a new extreme and uncontrollable circumstances hardship policy so that any physician or group who fails to report 2019 MIPS data by April 30, 2020 will receive a neutral payment adjustment in 2021. CMS is also evaluating options for providing relief for the 2020 MIPS performance year

Physicians who have not submitted any MIPS data by April 30, 2020 do not need to take any additional action to qualify for the automatic extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy. These clinicians will be automatically identified and receive a neutral payment adjustment for the 2021 MIPS payment year. All four MIPS performance categories for these clinicians will be weighted at zero percent, resulting in a score equal to the performance threshold, and a neutral MIPS payment adjustment for the 2021 MIPS payment year. However, if a MIPS eligible clinician submits data on two or more MIPS performance categories, they will be scored and receive a 2021 MIPS payment adjustment based on their 2019 MIPS final score.

ASC Quality Reporting

CMS also announced that for the Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Quality Reporting Program, data submission for the fourth quarter of 2019 (October 1 – December 31, 2019) is optional. In addition, CMS will not count data from January 1, 2020 through June 30, 2020 (Q1-Q2) for performance on payment programs. Data does not need to be submitted to CMS for this time period.

We will provide additional information as it becomes available. If you have questions, please contact Allison Madson, manager of regulatory affairs, at amadson@ascrs.org or 703-788-5749.

ASCRS and the Surgical Community Seek Relief for Physicians and Practices in Third COVID-19 Legislative Package Including E/M Global Fix, Waiving MACRA Reporting Requirements, Suspension of Sequestration, and Small Business Protections

As Congressional leaders continue to develop a third relief package targeted at industries impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency, ASCRS and the surgical community are advocating that the legislation include provisions to assist physicians and practices.  On Thursday, ASCRS sent a letter to Congressional leadership outlining our recommendations. Among the recommendations are provisions we have been advocating for and several related to the emergency itself, such as:

• Suspend budget neutrality requirements for E/M policy changes for 2021 included in the 2020 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule, which would increase the value of post-operative E/M services included in 10- and 90-day global codes, implement E/M add-on codes for patients with chronic disease, and prevent a major reimbursement reductions to surgery to pay for primary care increases;

• Suspend the 2% annual Medicare budget sequester;

• Suspend MACRA’s reporting requirements for at least 2020 and potentially 2021 as well;

• Reduce prior authorization requirements; and

• Consider medical practices as small businesses eligible for access to assistance programs.

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ASCRS Hosts Implementing Tele-Ophthalmology During COVID-19 Pandemic Webinar Next Week

On Thursday, March 26, at 3:00 p.m. ET, join ASCRS for the webinar, “Implementing Tele-Ophthalmology During COVID-19 Pandemic.” Recent government action has expanded telehealth coverage for Medicare beneficiaries nationwide, temporarily waiving penalties for HIPAA violations, and will reimburse physicians for telehealth services at the same rate for face-to-face services. ASCRS recognizes that our members need resources on how to implement telemedicine visits for their patients. Ranya Habash, MD, Medical Director of Technology Innovation and Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, will provide an overview of tele-ophthalmology, sharing various use cases, practice workflows, and updates to Medicare guidelines and reimbursement during the COVID-19 outbreak. She will also share telehealth best practices used at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute during this critical time. Stephen D. Klyce, PhD, FARVO, Adjunct Professor of Ophthalmology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, chair of the ASCRS ASOA Telemedicine Task Force and ASCRS FDA Committee member will moderate the webinar. Following the presentation, audience members may participate in the Q&A session.

This webinar is free to all ASCRS and ASOA members. Register here. If you have questions regarding registration, please contact Jillian Winans at jwinans@ascrs.org.

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Yesterday, the American College of Surgeons updated its online COVID-19 resources.

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On Friday, the American Medical Association AMA released the following curated guides and information to assist health professionals during the COVID-19 outbreak:

• A resource guide to help private practices manage non-essential care
• A list of policy options for states to address COVID-19
• Curated resources for residents and medical students to help manage the shifting timelines, cancellations and adjustments to testing and rotations 

On Thursday, AMA President Patrice Harris, MD and former president Steve Stack, MD, current Commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, shared insight on the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. and discussed the importance of all communities coming together to free up hospital capacity and minimize the burden of the virus.

• Link to video

• AMA News story

On Friday, the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) released important reminders to the ASC community.

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ASCRS offers its ongoing support and will continue to serve as a trusted resource to its members during these difficult times