CMS is offering another opportunity for payers and practices to join the Comprehensive Primary Care Plus pilot program, which qualifies as an Advanced Alternative Payment Model under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act.
Here are five things to know about the second round of the program.
1. Practices in Louisiana, Nebraska, South Dakota and the New York counties of Erie and Niagara are eligible to apply for participation from 2018 to 2022. Practices in the regions identified for the first round may not apply for the second round.
2. If chosen, participants are randomly assigned to one of two "tracks." One track is an intervention group and the other is a control group. Though the control group will not receive CPC+ payments or have access to the CPC+ learning group, CMS will compensate them for participation in activities related to the program. Both tracks would qualify as advanced APMs under MACRA if physicians meet all thresholds and requirements.
3. However, even if practices do not qualify as advanced APMs, CMS plans to make participation worthwhile for the control group. Pending the rulemaking process, CMS plans to implement a rule to allow favorable scoring for control group physicians in the Improvement Activities category of MACRA's Merit-based Incentive Payment System.
4. The agency expects 1,000 physician practices to join the program and has tentatively chosen seven payer partners for Round 2. It also added five more payers for additional support for Round 1 practices.
5. Interested practices and payers can apply online. Applications are due between May 18 and July 13. Apply here.
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