To help clarify some of the terms surrounding Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), the AMA has compiled a list of acronyms. This list will be updated regularly.
A
ABC™ - Achievable Benchmark of Care
ACO - accountable care organization
AHRQ - Agency for HealthCare Research and Quality
APM - alternative payment model
APRN - advanced practice registered nurse
ASPE - HHS’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
AUC - appropriate use criteria
B
BPCI - bundled payments for care improvement
C
CAH - critical access hospital
CAHPS - Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems
CBSA - non-core based statistical area
CDS - clinical decision support
CEHRT - certified EHR technology
CFR - Code of Federal Regulations
CHIP - Children’s Health Insurance Program
CJR - comprehensive care for joint replacement
CMMI - Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMS Innovation Center)
CMS - Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
COI - collection of information
CPIA - clinical practice improvement activity
CPOE - computerized provider order entry
CPR - customary, prevailing and reasonable
CPS - composite performance score
CPT - Current Procedural Terminology
CQM - clinical quality measure
CY - calendar year
D
DPP - diabetes prevention program
E
eCQM - Electronic Clinician Quality Measure
ED - Emergency Department
EHR - electronic health record
EP - eligible professional
ESRD - End-stage Renal Disease
F
FFS - fee for service
FQHC - federally qualified health center
FR - Federal Register
G
GAO - Government Accountability Office
GPCI - Geographic Practice Cost Index
H
HAC - hospital-acquired condition
HCAHPS - Hospice Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems
HHS - Department of Health & Human Services
HIE - Health Information Exchange
HIPAA - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
HITECH - Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health
HOPD - Hospital Outpatient Department
HPSA - health professional shortage area
HRSA - Health Resources and Services Administration
I
IHS - Indian Health Service
IPAB - Independent Payment Advisory Board
IT - information technology
L
LDO - large dialysis organization
M
MA - medical assistant
MAC - Medicare Administrative Contractor
MACRA - Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015
MedPAC - Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
MEI - Medicare Economic Index
MIPAA - Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008
MIPS - Merit-based Incentive Payment System
MLR - minimum loss rate
MSPB - Medicare spending per beneficiary
MSR - minimum savings rate
MU - Meaningful Use
MUA - medically underserved area
N
NCQA - National Committee for Quality Assurance
NPI - National Provider Identifier
NQF - National Quality Forum
O
OCM - Oncology Care Model
OIG - Office of the Inspector General
ONC - Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
P
PCMH - patient-centered medical home
PCORI - Patient-centered Outcomes Research Institute
PECOS - Medicare Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System
PFPMs - physician-focused payment models
PFS - physician fee schedule
PHS - public health service
PPS - prospective payment system
PQRS - Physician Quality Reporting System
PTAC - Physician-focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee
Q
QCDR - qualified clinical data registry
QIO - quality improvement organization
QP - qualifying APM participant
QPP - Quality Payment Program
QRDA - quality reporting document architecture
QRUR - quality and resource use reports
R
RAC - recovery audit contractor
RBRVS - Resource-based Relative Value Scale
RFI - request for information
RHC - rural health clinic
RIA - regulatory impact analysis
RVU - relative value unit
S
SGR - sustainable growth rate
T
TCPI - Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative
TIN - tax identification number
V
VBM - value-based payment modifier
VPS - volume performance standard
