Clinical Congress attendees have the opportunity to learn more about the American College of Surgeons Surgeon Specific Registry (ACS SSR™). Visit the SSR booth in ACS Central, 9:00 am–4:30 pm Monday through Wednesday, Moscone Center South, Halls ABC.

The ACS SSR is an online quality improvement tool and software application database that allows surgeons to conveniently track their cases and measure outcomes. The SSR is easy to use and accessible from computer or mobile devices (iOS and Android), and is part of the ACS integrated quality data platform.

The SSR supports the American Board of Surgery (ABS) Continuous Certification Program requirements, including the transmittal of cases to the ABS. In addition, the SSR continues to work closely with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement the Quality Payment Program Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and has CMS approval to provide MIPS Quality participation through registry-based reporting for performance year (PY) 2019.

The SSR is both a MIPS-Qualified Registry (QR) and a MIPS-Qualified Clinical Data Registry (QCDR) or the MIPS 2019 PY and is supporting the Quality (Clinical Quality Measures) and Improvement Activities (IA) components for individual surgeons. Eligible clinicians (ECs) can participate in reporting data related to these components through the SSR.

Each MIPS component is weighted differently in calculating the MIPS final score, which determines the MIPS payment adjustment. MIPS payment adjustments are applied based on an EC’s performance two years prior to the calendar year and can be positive, negative, or neutral. For 2019 MIPS participants, a maximum 7 percent payment adjustment is possible in calendar year 2021. Nonparticipation in MIPS 2019 will result in a 7 percent negative payment adjustment in 2021.

Check if you are eligible to participate in MIPS at https://qpp.cms.gov/participation-lookup.

The following MIPS components and options are available in the SSR:

• Quality Component and Reporting Options
• General Surgery Specialty Measures Set reporting option (MIPS-QR)
• ACS Surgical Phases of Care Measures Set (MIPS-QCDR)
• If you are eligible, report at least six quality measures, including one outcome or one high-priority measure, for at least 60 percent of all payor patients.
• IA component: There are 88 relevant IAs from which to choose. To receive full credit, most surgeons must attest to having performed two to four IAs.

Take advantage of opportunities to learn more about the SSR and regulatory programs while attending Clinical Congress.

For more information on the MIPS 2019 reporting options available within SSR, go to www.facs.org/quality-programs/ssr/mips/2019-participation.

For MIPS 2019 SSR educational offerings, go to www.facs.org/quality-programs/ssr/mips/2019-participation/2019-resources.