MIPS Claims Its First Casualty in Outpatient Rehab

Those of you who want to opt into MIPS and “be ready for tomorrow” are discovering an unexpected headwind. At first glance, your EMR’s approach to MIPS looks great; it’s comforting to know that your technology partner has your back.

BUT . . .Then, you notice the add-on charges for tracking outcomes. Plus, there are monthly fees for patient relationships/engagement. And don’t forget the new charges for the MIPS data registry submission. Our favorite reaction was from Mike, a practice owner, who lamented: “Our top priority was to avoid the MIPS takebacks. But when we got into the details, we realized that our EMR fees were roughly the same!”

The first casualty claimed by MIPS has been completely unexpected: It’s your EMR’s integrity. Still reeling from the CMS’s recent final rule that announced the future lower “fixed rate” reimbursements for daily visits, followed by an additional 15% reimbursement reduction for PTAs and COTAs, THE LAST THING practice owners can absorb significant price hikes from their EMR.

In a well-orchestrated presentation, your EMR has outlined the complexities of MIPS. “Complex” doesn’t come close to describing the new requirements. “Intimidating” is an understatement. After skillfully backing you into a dark, scary corner, your EMR explains, “Our costs have increased; it’s only fair that we share these new expenses.”

Systems 4PT has a one-word response for the EMRs, currently swindling their customers with higher fees, using MIPS as the rationale…

Yes, MIPS carries some new requirements. Your EMR says, “These changes are expensive.” But stop and think about it. What happens when the CMS announces its next bureaucratic program? Will there be yet another price increase from your technology “partner?” And then another and another?

When we look at the fees, it’s obvious that these add-on charges are not “costs.” We all see it. This is a new profit center for greedy EMRs and the venture capital banks that own them.

We’re not being unfair. Your EMR is forcing you to choose between profitability and compliance. They are showing you their true motivations and loyalties. Systems4PT is the one EMR that hasn’t sold you out. We rely on our practices to restore their patients’ function. We understand that our practices rely on Systems 4PT to innovate new technologies as healthcare reform continues to morph in complexity. We get it. Our job is to invent technologies enabling our therapists to spend time treating, not typing.

Our innovations enable therapists to comply with MIPS using a 20-second workflow. A workflow that’s demonstrated a 99.3% compliance track record in the past.

It’s as simple as this: Medicare is not judging you with an army of employees. They are judging you with a “Super Computer.” To thrive with MIPS, use a “Super Computer” of your own. That’s what we’ve invented. The therapist cannot sign the note unless the MIPS codes are correct. And Systems4PT provides this to our practices without higher fees or add-on charges.

Yes, Systems4PT faced the same wave of new costs related to outcomes, patient engagement, and registry submission. But we “thought outside the box.” We “put the squeeze on our business partners’ pricing.” We invented new ways to solve the problem, at lower costs than anyone else can deliver. Still, ultimately, our business costs are higher with MIPS than without MIPS. But Systems4PT didn’t raise prices.