Got a Practice Question? The practice@aan.com Networks Have the Answers

Got a Practice Question? The practice@aan.com Networks

Have the Answers

The practice@aan.com email inbox is an efficient way to reach staff and member expertise on practice-related topics such as payers, MIPS/MACRA, coding, and practice management. Staff experts respond within one business day and can seek the assistance and real-world expertise of the Practice Support Network, a group of 30 practicing neurologists and graduates of AAN’s Practice Leadership Program, or the Business Support Network, comprised of six business administrators in various practice settings. Below are some common questions that have come into the inbox recently.

PRACTICE MANAGEMENT

Q: What resources are available to a neurology administrator through the AAN? How can the AAN help connect me with my colleagues? A: The AAN has many resources dedicated to help business administrators (BA) and their practices thrive. If you aren’t already, consider becoming an AAN member. BA membership provides access to SynapseSM, the AAN’s online discussion boards, where you can reach your peers; free education products, such as the BA Education Series; and discounts on registration to the AAN’s conferences.

Administrators can reach colleagues in a variety of ways. In addition to Synapse, email practice@aan.com to reach the

Business Support Network, where administrators are ready to help answer any practice-related questions you may have.

Early in 2022, we will be forming new BA cohorts, small groups of administrators who meet regularly to share ideas and experiences. This is a great way to build your network.

Visiting AAN.com/PracticeResources is a great place to find resources to help you and your practice. The coding resources feature up-to-date information on coding changes and best practices. The operations resources, such as the

Top 5 lists and benchmarking data, can help you optimize your practice. And the value-based care resources can help you navigate the Quality Payment Program and support quality improvement in your practice.

CODING

Q: When billing based on Medical Decision Making (MDM) for outpatient E/M services, how should I count multiple tests under the Category I MDM element “Amount and/ or Complexity of Data to be Reviewed and Analyzed”? If I order a complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, and a lipid panel, how many unique tests would this be considered? A: This would count as three unique tests toward meeting the requirement for Category I of the MDM element. Each unique test ordered or reviewed counts and is considered unique even if they are all in the same category of test. Keep in mind, if a test is ordered and results are reviewed as part of an encounter, it is counted as only one data point.

To learn more about coding based on Medical Decision

Making, review neurology specific outpatient E/M coding case studies online at AAN.com/EM.

QUALITY PAYMENT PROGRAM

Q: My practice is struggling to identify which quality measures and improvement activities to report for Merit-based

Incentive Payment System (MIPS) reporting this year.

How can I narrow down my options? A: Each year, the AAN develops updated resources related to the Quality Payment Program (QPP) and MIPS, including identifying measures and activities that are most relevant to neurologists that year. The AAN’s Quality Payment

Program webpage offers a resource on how to “Navigate the

Quality Component of MIPS,” which includes the neurology measures available in MIPS, including measures in the

Axon Registry®. For the Improvement Activities component, the AAN has developed a resource on “Improvement

Activities for Neurologists to Consider” that can help practices determine what practice improvement activities they may already be participating in and can attest to for credit in MIPS. Additionally, the Centers for Medicare &

Medicaid Services has a tool to search and navigate quality measures by specialty at qpp.cms.gov.

As a reminder, CMS continues to extend the Extreme and

Uncontrollable Circumstances policy for the 2021 MIPS performance year. MIPS eligible clinicians and groups may apply requesting reweighting of one or more MIPS performance categories due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. You can learn more about MIPS and regulatory relief at AAN.com/QPP. 