In September 2016, ASCO announced its latest offering to oncology practices: the ability to complete all Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) requirements through the user-friendly Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®) platform at no cost. By completing the PQRS module by December 31, 2016, practices can avoid a 2% reduction in Medicare reimbursement beginning in 2018.
Each practice will be able to access the QOPI system to fulfill the Oncology Measures Group set of seven measures for PQRS reporting. The federal regulation requires every practice to submit 20 charts for each eligible professional identified by his or her National Provider Identifier. Each eligible professional must sign a participation agreement and attestation form to allow QOPI to submit on his or her behalf, or these agreements can be signed by the practice’s registered QOPI administrator. QOPI is free to all users, and the new PQRS reporting is free to any practice with a current ASCO member.
Practices that do not report PQRS quality measures in 2016 will receive a 2% decrease on Medicare Physician Fee Schedule services for 2018 and additional penalties, up to a loss of an additional 4% depending on the practice size, from the Value-Based Modifier. The Value-Based Modifier is the differential payment to practices under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule based upon the quality of care provided compared with the cost of care during a performance period.1
QOPI is an oncologist-led, practice-based quality assessment program designed to promote excellence in cancer care by helping practices create a culture of self-examination and improvement. It provides a standard methodology, robust library of quality metrics, and collection tool to reliably and routinely assess care, inform quality improvement activities, and demonstrate quality to patients and external stakeholders.
Instructions for Meeting PQRS Requirements Through QOPI
- Log into the QOPI system; if you are not already a QOPI user, you will need to register first, which requires there be at least one ASCO member in your practice.
- Click on “Classic QOPI.”
To participate in the QOPI Fall 2016 round and/or maintain your QOPI Certification, your minimum requirement is one disease or domain module plus the core module - Click on “Fall 2016.”
- Start at the green “QOPI Round Participation” tile.
- Select how you will participate (“Practice” or “Site”: See the blue “i” icon for more information)
- Select “Fall 2016” for the round
If you are only participating for PQRS submission, you are only required to select the PQRS pathway, but you are more than welcome to select additional modules and pathways. - If you are participating in this round for QOPI Certification or Recertification, you must select the QOPI Certification Program reporting pathway (although you may choose additional modules and pathways based on your practice’s reporting needs).
- Refer to the QOPI User Manual and the Chart Selection Criteria documents (under Current Round Documentation on the QOPI welcome page) for more details. A Participant Training Webinar also is available on this page.
Please note: All practices must complete a one-time QOPI platform registration. Previously registered practices are required to update their practice/site information prior to data entry. Any registration or
QOPI-specific questions may be sent to qopi@asco.org.
If you have any questions or would like more information, e-mail qopi@asco.org or clinicalaffairs@asco.org. ■
Reference
1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: Value-Based Payment Modifier. Available at https://www.cms.gov/medicare/medicare-fee-for-service-payment/physicianfeedbackprogram/valuebasedpaymentmodifier.html. Accessed November 2, 2016.
© 2016. American Society of Clinical Oncology. All rights reserved.
