Call to Action: Contact your Representatives to Support the Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act of 2019
- Call to Action: Ask your representatives to support the Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act of 2019!
- MACRA Tidbit for the Week: Year 3 Participation Requirements
Call to Action: Ask your representatives to support the Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act of 2019!
We need your help! Representative Ann Kuster (D-NH) has introduced the “Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act of 2019 (H.R.986).” The bill seeks to eliminate the implementation of the "State Relief and Empowerment Waivers” guidance, and protect those with pre-existing conditions from these state waivers under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Click here to take action now!
How can I get involved?
What are some important bills impacting GI in Congress? In your state? How can you easily voice your support?
ACG’s Legislative Action Center is your one stop resource to review and advocate for various federal and state bills impacting our profession, practice, and patients.
Visit the ACG Legislative Action Center here!
Remember to contact your ACG Governor on important state and local issues impacting you and your practice.
The ACG Board of Governors is one of the most unique aspects of the American College of Gastroenterology. Governors are ACG Fellows that are elected from the membership of a particular state or region. There are currently 77 Governors across seven different regions in the U.S. and abroad. The Board of Governors acts as a two-way conduit between College leadership and the membership at-large. This helps the College make certain it is meeting the evolving needs of the membership.
Year 3 Participation Requirements
2019: No Longer a “Transition Year”
As you may recall, CMS made efforts to ease the transition into MACRA in quality reporting years 2017 and 2018. If you made some sort of effort in quality reporting in CYs 2017 and 2018, you likely avoided a payment cut in CYs 2018 and 2019.
Do I have to participate in the QPP in 2019?
Who must participate in the QPP? You do, if you are a:
- physician
- physician assistant
- nurse practitioner
- clinical nurse specialist
- certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)
- physical therapist
- occupational therapist
- clinical social worker
- clinical psychologist
Those Not Subject to the QPP in 2019
You may be exempt from the QPP if you are:
- a newly Medicare-enrolled eligible clinician during the reporting period, i.e. those in the FIRST year of Medicare Part B participation in CY 2019, or
- a GI practice below the 2019 “low volume threshold”:
- Medicare Part B allowed charges that are less than or equal to $90,000, or
- See less than or equal 200 Medicare Part B patients, or
- Provide 200 or fewer covered professional services in a year.
In other words: you must meet all three categories of the “low volume threshold” to be eligible for the QPP.
Stay tuned for future tidbits on the CY 2019 reporting year.