CMS Announces 2013 PQRS Incentive Payments are Now Available

CMS is pleased to announce that the 2013 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) incentive payments are now available for eligible professionals and group practices who submitted data for Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Part B services between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013. The PQRS incentive payments are for EPs and groups practices who met the PQRS satisfactory reporting criteria, regardless of participation in another program (i.e., Medicare Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organization, Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative, etc.).

As required by law, President Obama issued a sequestration order on March 1, 2013. Under these mandatory reductions, PQRS incentive payments made to eligible professionals and group practices have been reduced by 2%. This 2% reduction affected PQRS incentive payments for reporting periods that ended on or after April 1, 2013. All 2013 incentive payments are subject to sequestration.

For more information on the PQRS incentive payments, please review the Analysis and Payment webpage of the CMS website. For more information on interpreting the data in the report, please review the 2013 PQRS Feedback Report User Guide.

If needed, please contact the QualityNet Help Desk for assistance. They can be reached at 1-866-288-8912 (TTY 1-877-715-6222) or via qnetsupport@hcqis.org from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CST Monday through Friday.