COVID-19 is over! …Now what?

Like an out-of-control wildfire, for over three years, the world was engulfed with one phrase: COVID-19. Every day of the pandemic presented new information and continued uncertainty. We never knew what the next step would be or what new restrictions would be placed over our lives to prevent the inevitable spread, while trying to figure out just exactly how deadly this virus was. We feared for ourselves, for our loved ones, and for our financial and future security.

After months of spending time indoors, staying apart from loved ones and adjusting to the “new normal”, finally, on May 11, 2023, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) announced the end of COVID-19 as a global emergency. After this date, CDC’s authorizations to collect certain types of public health data will expire. For the everyday American, this announcement means the following: vaccines and treatments will continue to remain available, while at home testing will no longer be covered by insurance. Also, the national reporting of COVID-19 may change as, according to the CDC, “what we have going forward will be different, it will still allow CDC, local public health officials, and the members of the public to understand COVID-19 dynamics at the community level.

The CDC has answered what the ending of COVID-19 means for Americans, but for those that find themselves on this blog, they may still be asking: what does the end of COVID-19 mean for my healthcare organization?

For those that submitted their Merit Incentive Payment System (MIPS) data during the pandemic, monumental changes could be coming your way. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is performing more audits for those who submitted data during that time. In fact, not only are we seeing the MIPS results from 2021 being audited in larger numbers, but CMS has begun cracking down and offering much less flexibility than what was covered during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. We can celebrate the end of a tumultuous time in our history, but there are still many moving parts that need to be calculated and addressed.

Obviously, these changes coming from CMS can affect your organization greatly. Let us know if we can be of any assistance with answering questions and addressing concerns when it comes to your MIPS processes during this confusing transition. ReportingMD is the top choice when it comes to quality, promoting interoperability, and supporting different MIPS category measures and our dedicated advisor team is always on standby to help.