CMS created a slow lane for the quality payment program next year to allow providers more time to get used to the new model. With minimal effort in 2017, providers can avoid a 4% pay cut. However, they'll still be graded, and Medicare will post their scores online, which could impact practice revenue.
Slow-lane providers could receive a very low score, noted
Jeanne Chamberlin, MA, FACMPE, practice management consultant for MSCO Health, during a
presentation on the new quality payment program. How low? Try three out of 100. Under the current Physician Compare start system where 100% earns five stars, that would be a negative amount of stars. Practices could start to feel a quality performance pay pinch when patients use the Physican Compare website and decide to go to a provider with a higher score.