“The early bird gets the worm.” 

I'm not sure when I heard this for the first time, but it became the guiding principle to my work ethic. Always show up first to any event whether personal or professional - that's the code.  This time it paid off!

CMS reports that for 2017, just over 90% of eligible clinicians participated in the Quality Payment Program (QPP). That number is impressive, but what about the nearly 10% who declined to participate? Many adopted a “wait-and-see” approach, or were concerned that the required investment of time, money, and effort wasn’t worth the reward. But the QPP is here to stay, and some physicians may only now be wondering where to start, or even whether they can succeed at all after avoiding it for so long.

If you find yourself among that number, don’t worry, because it’s not too late! This week we’re laying out the first things you should know, and the first steps to take.

• I’m seeing a patient for dermatitis – Why do I need their BMI?
• I’m seeing a patient for a colorectal screening – How is it going to help me if they got their flu shot?
• I’m a Specialist. Why is it my job to ask these questions?

I encountered these questions all the time as a MIPS consultant within the specialty market. I spent the past 6 years working with providers who just want to provide better care to their patients. They didn’t mind participating in the programs, but they were not convinced there was much value.

You have been dealing with the bureaucracy behind quality reporting for years - silly questions with no relevance to your field or specialty, EMRs changing the way measures are recorded, CMS changing requirements during the reporting period. It’s hard enough to get your fingers around the changes as a manager or provider, but imagine the confusion on your staff’s side! Plus, they don’t have the incentive of financial responsibility or a reputation to uphold.

So, how do we get their buy-in?