FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CMS MU, 2%: Certified Medical Scribes Meet Personnel Measure Meaningful Use; Prepare for MIPS Measures and Innovation
CONTACT: Kristin Hagen, Executive Director
Clinical Informatics/Wellness
American College of Medical Scribe Specialists
(657) 888-2158
ANAHEIM, Calif., June 6, 2016. With only six months left to attest to Meaningful Use CEHRT at 2%, ACMSS reminds clinicians and practices, all personnel entering electronic data must be certified. CMS has always recognized Certified Medical Scribe Specialists meeting Meaningful Use personnel attestations. Additionally, medical practices and providers need to be readying now for proposed MACRA legislation and transitioning to Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Certified Medical Scribes play a vital role in meeting a number of important measures, while providing medical practices with opportunities for innovation in care.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has streamlined its value measures for care into proposed MACRA: MIPS which allows Medicare clinicians to be paid for providing high quality, efficient care through success in four performance categories that relate to cost, practice improvement, quality and advancing information for care.
“Certified medical scribes work hand-in-hand with medical practices and providers to help with MIPS measures of Quality, Clinical Practice Improvement Activities, and Advancing Care Information,” said Kristin Hagen, president and CEO of the American College of Medical Scribe Specialists. “These measures make up 90 percent of the MIPS score in Year 1, which is proposed to begin January 1, 2017. In addition, the practice efficiencies that Certified Medical Scribes offer outside of clinical documentation can help lower practice costs and give providers more time to innovate and integrate preventive medicine, disease reversal and wellness planning into their practices.”
CMS has asked that each provider or practice maintain a copy of the specialist crosswalk and certification document in their files, just as they would retain documentation outlining their individual approach and method, as well as staffing protocols for audit purposes. The crosswalk outlines many of the tasks that Certified Medical Scribe Specialists (CMSS) credential and certification may provide, outside of their primary focus of clinical documentation.
Some of the many other clinical and non-clinical tasks covered by the CMSS credential include:
· Scheduling and receiving patients
· Preparing, maintaining and researching electronic medical records
· Performing secretarial and clerical tasks
· Serving as a liaison between the patient and physician
· Explaining treatment procedures to patients and reviewing physician-provided instructions
· Preparing patients for examinations, and preparing examination
· & Many more, as set forth by ACMSS Membership and protected access to secure crosswalk
CMS requires that any staff members who will be entering electronic information, including and up to Computerized Provider Order Entry information for documentation must attest for Meaningful Use and be certified or credentialed. Eligible clinicians who do not successfully demonstrate Meaningful Use are subject to 2% provider penalty adjustments for those who do not attest and certify. The penalty/adjustments transition to 3% in 2017.
CMSS certified scribes meet criteria toward attestations. The ACMSS certification program meets current and proposed CMS certification requirements toward use of EHRs through its Medical Scribe Certification & Aptitude Test (MSCAT). ACMSS works independently in compliance with CMS to meet national goals and initiatives of Meaningful Use, MACRA: MIPS/APM. Certified medical scribes are the “qualified people” standard in Certified Electronic Health Record Technology (CEHRT). ACMSS is standardized in governance compliance with CMS and a growing list of Non-Profit Partners. ACMSS is Non-Profit Partnering with all across healthcare, together working in unity to unite the nation in wellness, sustainable outcomes, and patient-centric care.
“Together we create a robust and interoperable 21st-century healthcare system, revolutionizing care and creating innovative and effective outcomes for the people,” said Hagen.
In addition to the overall certification exam for medical scribes, ACMSS provides specialty certifications to all in General certifications, in addition to present speciality certifications of vascular medicine, dermatology, primary care, internal medicine, and emergency medicine. ACMSS serves as a resource to physicians/mid-levels, through enablement of fully credentialed professionals, adhering to federal regulations and guidance. Clinicans and Practices are enabled through eligible staff and purchasing Volume Certification Package Bundles. Discounts are rewarded with 5+ certification bundling.
Please contact ACMSS directly at info@theacmss.org or 657-888-2158 for more information on the ACMSS program and purchasing standardized Volume Certification Packages and materials.
About ACMSS
The American College of Medical Scribe Specialists is the nation’s only nonprofit professional society representing more than 17,000 Medical Scribes in over 1,500 medical institutions. ACMSS partners with academic institutions and medical scribe corporations to offer both education-to-certification and employment-to-certification pathways. ACMSS advances the needs of the medical scribe industry through certification, public advocacy, and continuing education. ACMSS is also available for speaking engagements. To learn more about ACMSS, please visit: www.theacmss.org
For ACMSS contact:
Kristin Hagen, CPEHR, CPHIE, CPHIT, CMSS
American College of Medical Scribe Specialists
info@theacmss.org
(657) 888-2158
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