Preparing for the Quality Payment Program

The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) of 2015, directs CMS to implement a Medicare quality payment incentive program, known as the Quality Payment Program (QPP). The QPP rewards value and outcomes in one of two ways: through the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and through Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs).

Cardiothoracic surgeons will likely follow the MIPS pathway for the foreseeable future, unless they participate in an Advanced APM through their hospital or another entity. 

2021 represents the fifth year of the QPP. While CMS continues to raise the bar on compliance and performance, the agency also continues to seek ways to ease administrative burden for clinicians participating in this program. 

This MACRA Toolkit for Cardiothoracic Surgeons offers important information to help cardiothoracic surgical practices navigate and participate in the QPP. For a more complete overview of QPP and update educational materials, visit the CMS QPP website