MIPS allows you to pick your pace in 2017 and beyond.  Here are the 4 options:

1. Don't Participate - If you don't report anything for 2017, you automatically receive a -4% payment adjustment on your 2019 Medicare payments.

2. Test - If you submit a minimum amount of data in 2017 (for example, one quality measure or one improvement activity for any point in 2017), you can avoid a downward payment adjustment.

3. Partial - If you submit data for a 90 day period, you may earn a positive payment adjustment on your 2019 Medicare payments.  This could even be the max adjustment.

4. Full - If you submit a full year of data in 2017, you may earn a positive payment adjustment on your 2019 Medicare payments.  This could even be the max adjustment.

CMS is purposefully not giving strict guidelines for participation.  The adjustments will be calculated after all data is recieved and positive adjustments will be made to off set negative ones.  This creates a budget neutral program based on the participation of all eligible clinicians.