PQRS?

[Christy]

Is anyone using PQRS? Is it true that to avoid a Medicare payment penalty in 2015, you need to submit only one claim using PQRS by the end of 2013?

Do you need to register with Medicare for PQRS?

thanks!

[Billing2]

Yes, we are using PQRS for my chiropractic office.
I have a nice fact sheet if you send me your email, I'll send it to you.
I tired to attach it but the file is to big.

[JenniferPT]

Billing2, would you mind sharing that fact sheet?  I have a client (he is the client of my client, an LMFT and he is a Psychologist) who is asking me about this and I would like him to know he is basically stuck with the penalty since he's never used PQRS until this year.

[kristin]

Here is a timeline that should be helpful:

http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/PQRS/Downloads/CMS_PQRS_Timeline_01-27-2014.pdf

It clearly shows that if you started reporting in 2015, you are doing so to avoid the penalty for 2017. It is always two years ahead. So if your client wanted to avoid the penalty for 2015, they needed to report PQRS for 2013. To avoid the penalty for 2016, they needed to report for 2014.

[JenniferPT]

I don't think he did any reporting prior to this year. 

[kristin]

Then he will get the penalty this year, and next year. If he successfully reports for 2015, he won't be penalized for 2017.