You now have one more Advanced Alternative Payment Model (APM) for which you can qualify in 2017 and two more for 2018, according to an Oct. 25 press release from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
In particular, the CMS Innovation Center’s Oncology Care Model with two-sided risk will be available in 2017, meaning this model will qualify as an Advanced APM during the 2017 performance period. Also, the agency plans to re-open applications for new practices and payers in the Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) model and for new practices in the Next Generation Accountable Care Organization (ACO) for the 2018 performance period.
This means that for 2017, you may earn a 5% incentive payment by meeting the participation thresholds in the following Advanced APMs:
- Comprehensive ESRD Care Model (Large Dialysis Organization (LDO) arrangement)
- Comprehensive ESRD Care Model (non-LDO arrangement)
- CPC+
- Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs – Track 2
- Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs – Track 3
- Next Generation ACO Model
- Oncology Care Model (two-sided risk arrangement)
For 2018, CMS anticipates adding the following models to the Advanced APM list:
- ACO Track 1+
- New voluntary bundled payment model
- Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Payment Model (Certified Electronic Health Record Technology (CEHRT) track)
- Advancing Care Coordination Through Episode Payment Models Track 1 (CEHRT track)
“These lists will continue to change and grow as more models are proposed and developed in partnership with the clinician community and the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee,” CMS said.
The agency estimates that roughly 25% of clinicians will earn incentive payments as part of an Advanced APM by the 2018 performance period. The Advanced APMs are part of the Quality Payment Program created under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). They seek to align clinician incentives with high-quality, patient-centered care.