On April 21, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that clinicians participating in the Quality Payment Program (QPP) can earn credit in the Merit-based Incentive payment system (MIPS) by attesting to a new COVID-19 Clinical Trials improvement activity based on participation in a clinical trial and reporting information. Clinicians who may earn this MIPS credit include physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and others. MIPS is one of two options for clinicians to participate in Medicare’s QPP, and requires clinicians to report certain quality, cost and other data to Medicare. A clinician’s Medicare reimbursement may be reduced if the clinician does not meet certain quality and performance measures.
Continue Reading CMS Announces Merit-Based Incentive Payment for Clinicians Participating in COVID-19 Clinical Trial

On December 13, 2016, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a favorable Advisory Opinion to a university health system (the Requestor) for two arrangements relating to a federally-funded clinical research study designed by a physician-employee (the Study):

  1. a proposal to waive the cost-sharing obligations of Study participants (Participants) for medically necessary health care services received under the Study protocol (the Proposed Arrangement), and
  2. payment of a stipend to Participants for the time and effort required to participate (the Current Arrangement).

Continue Reading OIG Issues Favorable Advisory Opinion for Cost-sharing Waivers and Stipends in a Clinical Research Study