PQRS shows us that our payment system is moving in a new direction. Fee-for-volume is giving way to the new world of fee-for-value. That’s why PQRS requirements are tied to your incentive payments and after 2014… payment penalties for failing to meet requirements.

By not complying with Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) requirements, you’re doing just that, placing yourself at risk for penalties that could reduce your hard earned revenue. According to a new study by The Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute, “more than 80 percent of Medicare providers will face penalties for failing to meet quality thresholds if current performance trends continue.”

After 2014, bonuses are going away. Beginning in 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will apply a negative payment adjustment to eligible professionals who do not satisfactorily report data on quality measures for covered professional services.

It’s true, PQRS participation is voluntary. But, if you are among the majority of emergency physicians who currently participate in PQRS, more participation in fact than any other medical specialty, you’re indeed going to avoid the penalties and earn all the payments from CMS you are due.

Depending on the size of your practice, at least one (if under 10) or more PQRS measures will need to be reported between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31. But which measure is best for your emergency medicine practice? The right medical coding, billing and collections firm specializing in PQRS and all other Emergency Medicine compliance, can help in selecting the reporting measure that is right for you and your practice is available.

Let’s face it, there are many CMS changes to monitor, including reporting measures in Emergency Medicine during 2013. For example, solely reporting pneumonia measures will no longer satisfy the criteria for the PQRS incentive, which now requires reporting not one but three individual measures.

Payment incentive guidelines for the 2013 reporting year. New Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) reporting measures for 2014. Possible penalties in 2015 and 2016. All of these new developments in PQRS can leave your practice vulnerable and keeping track of them all takes your focus away from patient care. revMD.com is the industry expert in PQRS, keeping their eye on the ball and protecting you from reduced payments that will result from incomplete data reporting, whether you are a practice of 2, 20 or 200. Fulfilling the PQRS requirements not only optimizes your revenue stream it also can demonstrate the care you provide.

As the revenue assurance experts, revMD.com stays current on federal guidelines and changes in quality reporting measures and all other compliance areas.

revMD.com’s specialization in Emergency Medicine healthcare revenue cycle management includes special expertise in PQRS that lifts the weight of selecting the right quality measure to report. They understand how to run diagnosis utilization for emergency medicine to ensure compliance and glean all the revenue that’s rightfully due.

revMD.com is the results-proven alternative for physician medical billing, with a niche specialization in emergency coding and billing, PQRS and ICD-10 preparation that generates unprecedented results and builds profitable medical practices. Leveraging a history of industry wide success spanning 26 years, revMD.com partners with medical practices throughout the U.S. to optimize revenue for hospital based and community based physicians. For more information, visit www.revmd.com.

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