MOC:PQRS incentive: what it is, how to earn it

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• MOC part II: Complete more than 25 CME credits per year, or complete more than 10 SAM credits per year, or
• MOC part III: Take the secure examination in years seven, eight, or nine of the MOC cycle, or
• MOC part IV: Complete more than one performance improvement/quality assessment per year, or
• Patient safety course: Complete an ABMS-approved patient safety course during the first MOC reporting period.

MOC:PQRS participants must satisfactorily submit data on the PQRS quality measures per CMS requirements for a 12-month period, either as an individual physician (claims-based, registry, or qualified EHR) or as part of a group practice under one of the PQRS group practice reporting options.  Physicians must continue to report to the CMS as usual to receive the baseline 0.5 percent incentive payment and to qualify for the additional 0.5 percent MOC:PQRS incentive payment.

Diplomates must use the MOC:PQRS attestation module at www.mocmatters.abms.org. This module provides step-by-step instructions and an explanation of the MOC:PQRS program. The discounted cost for the attestation module is $30. There is also an option to purchase the MOC:PQRS bundle, which includes the attestation module and the PQRS reporting via a registry module. The PQRS reporting via registry qualifies for the PQRS group reporting option. The discounted cost of the bundle is $100. ABP diplomates are exempt from the CMS requirement to participate in a patient experience of care survey.

All participants in MOC:PQRS are required to complete in 2013 at least one MOC part IV practice assessment (performance improvement/quality assessment) activity.

For diplomates with lifetime certificates, voluntary enrollment in the ABP’s MOC program will meet the “more frequent” CMS requirement to qualify for the additional MOC:PQRS incentive payment.

Lifetime diplomates should send an e-mail request to abp-moc@abpath.org to enroll in the ABP’s MOC program. The MOC booklet of information is available at the ABP Web site: www.abpath.org. The cost of MOC enrollment is $100. The first report of MOC activities is not due to the ABP until Jan. 31, 2015. There is no jeopardy to the lifetime certificate if a diplomate chooses not to report or continue participation in MOC.  Lifetime diplomates must also use the MOC:PQRS attestation module at www.mocmatters.abms.org and attest to having completed at least one MOC part IV practice assessment (performance improvement/quality assessment) activity during 2013.
The attestation module must be completed by Dec. 31, 2013 to qualify for the incentive payment.
For questions or more information, send e-mail to the ABP at abp-moc@abpath.org or call Jill Gordon, MOC coordinator, at 813-286-2444 ext. 222.
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Dr. Johnson is chief executive officer, American Board of Pathology, Tampa, Fla.