It’s no secret that MACRA will be the catalyst in changing the US healthcare system as we know it. It is crucial for the est. 700,000 providers to understand the economics behind the 2,400 page legislation that will affect their revenue starting in 2019. The goal of this presentation is to explain purpose of MACRA’s Merit-Based Incentive Program (MIPS) and provide a basic guide for what providers should consider to do. 

The first two MIPS performance years hold the power to determine a provider’s standing and practice longevity. What happens to providers in 2017 and 2018 will send waves through the health industry. For this reason, we seek to answer these pertinent questions:

Question 1: 
How much will MIPS impact a typical provider? Nadeen will discuss variables associated with provider idiosyncrasies; the nuances of the MIPS scoring system, and how to make business and operation decisions to navigate. 

Question 2: 
What are the paths a provider has to choose from in 2017? Nadeen will discuss the flexibility options presented by CMS applicable to the first performance year, 2017. Each of the four options provides four different outcomes providers will see in the first financial year, 2019. 

Question 3: 
What will happen in 2018 and beyond? Nadeen will explain the expected changes to participating in MIPS and the resulting business and operations decisions to navigate in the second performance year, 2018, and after. Changes include the expiration of the CMS flexibility options, the growing MIPS payment adjustments, and the shifting weights of the MIPS scoring categories. 

Question 4: What do I do? There are many paths and rules one chose to follow under MIPS depending on his/her strengths and weaknesses and Nadeen will provide a list of what providers can do in 2017 and 2018 to survive and thrive under MIPS. 

About Our Speaker:
Nadeen Siddiqui is a researcher and business analyst working in the health and public service sector.  Nadeen’s research focus is on operational improvements and cost reductions in healthcare environments and public health.  Nadeen has served as a policy analyst in Washington, D.C. where she co-authored research on Achieving Interoperability in an ACO published in HFMA magazine.  Nadeen maintains memberships in the eHealth Initiative, Project Management Institute and Healthcare Information Management Systems Society where she maintains CAHIMS & CAPM certifications.  Nadeen received her Bachelor’s Degree in Economics & Biology from Austin College and completed post-baccalaureate coursework at The University of Texas at Austin with a concentration in Health Informatics and Health Information Technology.  Nadeen’s charity contributions include serving as a Global Health Fellow in El Salvador for the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children (FIMRC).