American College of Surgeons (ACS) health policy staff are available at the Quality Payment Program (QPP) booth outside of Hall D, San Diego Convention Center, to answer questions and provide resources to help surgeons avoid a 4 percent payment penalty in 2019.

Two options exist for QPP participation: Advanced Alternative Payment Models and the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). The majority of surgeons initially will participate through MIPS.

At the QPP booth, surgeons can access the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services participation status lookup tool to identify if they are required to participate in MIPS. Members who have $30,000 or less in Medicare Part B billing or 100 or fewer Medicare patients are exempt from MIPS and its requirements.

In addition to determining MIPS eligibility, surgeons can explore reporting requirements, which differ based on practice type, including small or rural practices, or if they are hospital-employed. An interactive flowchart is featured in the online ACS QPP Resource Center to help surgeons navigate MIPS. Access the flowchart at facs.org/advocacy/qpp/flowchart.

Moreover, at the QPP booth, surgeons can watch ACS-created videos that provide an easy-to-understand overview of MIPS. They also may pick up supporting handouts that provide guidance on avoiding the 4 percent penalty and possibly achieving a positive payment update.

For more information about MIPS while at Clinical Congress 2017, visit the QPP booth or e-mail Sadhana Chalasani, ACS Regulatory and Quality Affairs Coordinator, at [email protected].