The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing to remove two AASM-stewarded obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) measures from the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) program for the 2021 payment year (and future years).
The measures proposed for removal are:
- 276 – Sleep Apnea: Assessment of Sleep Symptoms
- 278 – Sleep Apnea: Positive Airway Pressure Prescribed
As stated in the proposed rule for revisions to the Medicare physician fee schedule, CMS is working to transition away from including process measures in the Quality Payment Program. Its goal is to move toward a focus on outcome quality measures and other measures that fit into the high priority measure category, which includes appropriate use, patient experience, patient safety, efficiency, and care coordination measures.
The AASM will be submitting comments to oppose the proposed removal of these two measures that are specific to the practice of sleep medicine, as both measures should be categorized as high priority patient safety measures, given the overwhelming amount of evidence in the medical literature describing the negative effects of untreated sleep disorders. Sleep medicine professionals also need relevant measures to report for participation in the MIPS program, and currently there are only four sleep medicine measures included in the program.
AASM members are encouraged to submit comments in opposition to this proposal. Comments in response to the proposed rule must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 10.
Learn more about the proposed changes by viewing the CY 2019 Quality Payment Program fact sheet. Get more information from the AASM about coding and reimbursement.
