Reed Tinsley https://www.rtacpa.com/ Fri, 27 Mar 2026 05:09:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.rtacpa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/cropped-cropped-Favicon2-32x32.png Reed Tinsley https://www.rtacpa.com/ 32 32 2026 MIPS Annual Call for Quality and Cost Measures is Open https://www.rtacpa.com/2026-mips-annual-call-quality-cost-measures-open/ Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:34:47 +0000 https://www.rtacpa.com/?p=30948 Annual MIPS Call for Quality and Cost Measures is Now Open for Submissions The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) encourages you to submit quality and cost measures for consideration for future years of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). The MIPS Annual Call for Quality and Cost Measures process allows clinicians, professional associations, and medical societies that represent clinicians, researchers, consumer groups, and others to identify and submit measures. Currently, CMS is accepting submissions for: 
  • Measures for the quality performance category, and 
  • Measures for the cost performance category. 
The 2026 MIPS Annual Call for Quality and Cost Measures is from March 19, 2026, to May 7, 2026. Measure developers can submit quality and cost measures for CMS’s consideration by completing the required fields and submitting applicable measure specifications and all supporting data files via the CMS Measures Under Consideration Entry/Review Information Tool (MERIT)  by 8 p.m. ET on May 7, 2026. Candidate measures that are submitted via CMS MERIT will be considered for potential inclusion on the Measures Under Consideration (MUC) List, which is part of the pre-rulemaking process. The timeframe for candidate measures to be considered for inclusion in MIPS is a 2-year process. Only candidate quality and cost measures submitted by May 7, 2026, will be considered for inclusion in the MIPS quality or cost performance categories. Measures selected for inclusion on the MUC List would be considered for MIPS implementation in PY2028. 

CMS MERIT and Pre-Rulemaking Resources

Please refer to the CMS MERIT Quick Start Guide for Submitters for guidance on using the tool. For this document and the most up-to-date information regarding pre-rulemaking, visit the Pre-Rulemaking webpage.  For more information about the pre-rulemaking process, inquiries about measures submitted for the most recent cycle, or questions on other general measure topics, please email MMSsupport@battelle.org. 

Quality Measure Information

CMS is looking for fully developed and tested measures that address measurement gaps, needs, and priority topic areas, as defined by CMS. For further information, please review the 2026 MIPS Annual Call for Quality Measures Fact available soon on the Quality Payment Program (QPP) Resource Library.  Also, CMS is particularly interested in quality measures for specialties not yet represented by a MIPS Value Pathway (MVP) or MVPs with fewer quality measures available for reporting. For further information, please review the 2026 MVP Needs and Priorities document in the MVP Development Resources (ZIP, 1MB). 

Cost Measure Information

CMS will consider cost measures that focus on specialties with limited episode-based cost measures and address high-priority clinical topics for future MVP development. It’s imperative that the submission of cost measures include complete measure specifications and the required testing information.  Review the 2026 MIPS Annual Call for Cost Measures Fact Sheet for detailed information regarding cost measures, which will be available soon on the CMS QPP Resource Library.

Additional Resources:

]]> The One Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) https://www.rtacpa.com/the-one-big-beautiful-bill-act-obbba/ Tue, 04 Nov 2025 19:08:16 +0000 https://www.rtacpa.com/?p=30734 ...]]> What You Need To Know About The One Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed into law the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). OBBBA includes the largest tax overhaul since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA), and it will affect almost every individual and business in the United States. The provisions in the new law go into effect on various dates, but most of the key ones affecting individuals apply to the current tax year. Here is a brief rundown of what’s in the new law and how it might affect you as an individual.

Tax Rates and Brackets

OBBBA makes permanent the current tax rates, which had been set to revert to higher rates at the end of 2025. Tax brackets will continue to be indexed for inflation. For 2025, the top rate (37 percent) kicks in at $751,600 of taxable income for joint filers, $375,800 for married taxpayers filing separately, and $626,350 for all other individual taxpayers.

Personal Exemptions and Standard Deduction

TCJA repealed the personal exemption deductions but nearly doubled the standard deduction amounts for taxpayers who do not itemize their deductions. OBBBA makes these changes permanent and increases the standard deduction for the 2025 to $15,750 for single filers, $23,625 for heads of household, and $31,500 for married filing jointly. These amounts will be indexed for inflation in future years.

Deduction for State and Local Taxes

For taxpayers who itemize, TCJA capped the deduction for state and local taxes at $10,000. OBBBA provides relief by increasing the cap to $40,000 for 2025. The amount is increased to $40,400 for 2026 and then indexed for inflation annually before reverting to the current $10,000 limit in 2030. The enhanced cap is phased out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income over $500,000.

New Deduction for Tip Income (No Tax on Tips)

OBBBA creates a new deduction of up to $25,000 for qualified tips received by an individual in an occupation which customarily and regularly receives tips during a given tax year. The deduction is allowed for both employees and independent contractors. The deduction begins to phase out when the taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income exceeds $150,000 ($300,000 in the case of a joint return). The deduction, which is allowed for the 2025-2028 tax years, is available regardless of whether you itemize or take the standard deduction.

New Deduction for Overtime Pay (No Tax on Overtime)

OBBBA creates a new deduction for up to $12,500 ($25,000 in the case of a joint return) for “qualified overtime compensation” (defined as overtime compensation paid to an individual under Section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act). The deduction begins to phase out when the taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income exceeds $150,000 ($300,000 in the case of a joint return). The deduction, which is allowed for the 2025-2028 tax years, is available regardless of whether you itemize or take the standard deduction.

New Senior Deduction (No Tax on Social Security)

OBBBA adds a deduction for all individuals who have reached age 65 before the end of the tax year. The deduction amount is $6,000 per individual. The senior deduction begins to phase out when the taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income exceeds $75,000 ($150,000 in the case of a joint return). The deduction, which is allowed for the 2025-2028 tax years, is available regardless of whether you itemize or take the standard deduction.

New Deduction for Car Loan Interest

OBBBA creates a new deduction of up to $10,000 for interest paid on debt incurred after December 31, 2024 for the purchase of a qualifying new vehicle assembled in the U.S. The deduction is allowed for tax years 2025 through 2028 and begins to phase out when the taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income exceeds $100,000 ($200,000 in the case of a joint return). The deduction is available regardless of whether you itemize or take the standard deduction.

Trump Accounts

OBBBA creates Trump accounts, a new type of tax-advantaged savings account administered by banks and other financial institutions. Starting in 2026, parents of any child under age 18 may open a Trump account for their child. Aggregate contributions are limited to $5,000 annually, but the limit does not apply to contributions from tax-exempt entities such as private foundations. Beginning at age 18, account holders may beginning accessing funds for a limited set of purposes, including higher education. Under a pilot program, for U.S. citizens born between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2028, the federal government will contribute $1,000 per child into every eligible account.

Enhancements to 529 Plans

Beginning in 2026, OBBBA increases the annual limit on distributions from 529 savings plans from $10,000 to $20,000. It also allows distributions to be used for additional educational expenses in connection with enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school, including: curriculum and curricular materials; books or other instructional materials; online educational materials; tutoring or educational classes outside the home; certain testing fees; fees for dual enrollment in an institution of higher education; and certain educational therapies for students with disabilities.

Charitable Contribution Deduction

Beginning in 2026, OBBBA provides a charitable contribution deduction for non-itemizers of up to $1,000 in cash contributions for single filers ($2,000 for married filing jointly). For individuals who elect to itemize, OBBBA imposes a new 0.5-percent adjusted gross income floor on charitable contributions (i.e., it reduces any deduction by 0.5-percent of adjusted gross income).

Child Tax Credit

OBBBA permanently increases the child tax credit to $2,200 per child beginning in 2025 and indexes it for inflation.

Adoption Credit

OBBBA makes the adoption tax credit partially refundable up to $5,000 (indexed for inflation) beginning in 2025.

Deduction for Mortgage Insurance Premiums

Beginning in 2026, OBBBA permanently restores the deduction for mortgage insurance premiums (previously available from 2018 through 2021) by treating such premiums as interest on acquisition indebtedness. As before, the deduction is phased out for taxpayers with adjusted gross income above $100,000 ($50,000 for married filing separately).

New Limit on Gambling Losses

Under current law, deductions for gambling losses are limited to gambling winnings. Beginning in 2026, OBBBA limits the deduction for gambling losses to 90 percent of the amount of such losses. Any deduction remains limited to the amount of gambling winnings.

Termination of Clean Energy Credits

OBBBA terminates the new clean vehicle credit and the previously-owned clean vehicle credit for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025. It also terminates the energy efficient home improvement credit and residential clean energy credit at year’s end

]]> Court Denies Clothing Donations to Goodwill and the Salvation Army https://www.rtacpa.com/court-denies-clothing-donations-to-goodwill-and-the-salvation-army/ Fri, 22 Aug 2025 19:27:13 +0000 https://www.rtacpa.com/?p=30633 ...]]> Court Denies Clothing Donations to Goodwill and the Salvation Army IRS Form 8283 (Noncash Charitable Donations) is used when you donate property valued at more than $500. If your deduction is greater than $5,000 (except for publicly traded securities), you generally must obtain a qualified appraisal and meet specific appraisal rules. It’s amazing how many people don’t realize this.

The Facts

Duncan Bass worked hard. He worked one full-time W-2 job for about 53 hours a week and a second, concurrent W-2 job for about 15 hours a week. In addition to his W-2 jobs, Mr. Bass operated a landscaping business, a janitorial business, and a used clothing store business. His landscaping and janitorial clients gave Mr. Bass men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing. He donated the better clothing to Goodwill and the Salvation Army, claiming clothing tax deductions of $13,852 and $11,594 for the two years before the court. Mr. Bass did not donate the lesser-quality clothing items he received from his clients. Instead, he sold them through his used clothing store.

Mr. Bass’ Donation

Mr. Bass testified before the court that he visited Goodwill and the Salvation Army 173 times. He did this to ensure that every donation receipt he completed showed a market value below $250, so he wouldn’t need appraisals.

A Donation Gone Wrong

IRS Form 8283 and its instructions, along with tax code Section 170(f)(11)(F) and IRS Regulation Section 1.170A13(c), mandate grouping similar items of property (such as clothing) for purposes of the $5,000 rule that requires appraisals.

How the Court Ruled

The court ruled that since no appraisals were attached to his tax return, Mr. Bass could not deduct any of his clothing donations to Goodwill and the Salvation Army.

Summary

When an Appraisal Is Required
  •  Donations of $500 or less – No appraisal required. Basic records should be retained.
  • Donations over $500 but not more than $5,000 – No appraisal required, but Section A of Form 8283 must be completed with descriptive information about the contributed property.
  • Donations over $5,000 – A qualified appraisal is required. Section B of Form 8283 must be completed, and the charitable organization must sign Part IV.
  • Donations over $500,000 – A qualified appraisal is required and a copy of the full appraisal must be attached to the tax return.
Qualified Appraisal Requirements The appraisal must:
  • Be conducted by a qualified appraiser (see definition below).
  • Be dated no earlier than 60 days before the contribution and no later than the due date (including extensions) of the donor’s return.
Contain the following details:
  • Detailed description of the property and its condition
  • Appraiser’s name, qualifications, and signature
  • Valuation method and specific basis for the value
  • Date of contribution and appraised fair market value
Qualified Appraiser Definition A “qualified appraiser” is defined by the IRS as an individual who:
  • Holds an appraisal designation from a recognized professional organization, or meets minimum education and experience requirements for valuing the type of property involved.
  • Regularly prepares appraisals for compensation.
  • Is independent of the donor and the donee (i.e., not the taxpayer, recipient organization, or a related party)
Documentation and Attachments
  • Section B of Form 8283 must be signed by both the qualified appraiser and the donee charity.
  • For contributions exceeding $500,000, the complete appraisal report must be attached to the donor’s tax return.
  • Donors should maintain a copy of the appraisal and all supporting records in their files.
For charitable contributions of property, the IRS places significant emphasis on independent, professional valuations. Failure to meet the appraisal requirements can result in the disallowance of deductions, even if the donation itself is valid. I recommend consulting with a qualified appraiser before finalizing large property contributions and ensuring that all required documentation, including Form 8283, is properly completed and signed.

Additional Resources:

]]> My Social Security Number Was Stolen, Now What? https://www.rtacpa.com/my-social-security-number-was-stolen-now-what/ Tue, 22 Jul 2025 00:32:35 +0000 https://www.rtacpa.com/?p=30615 ...]]> Why a Compromised SSN Is a Serious Threat and How to Protect Yourself (and Your Business) By this point, my best guess is that most people’s Social Security numbers (SSNs), a.k.a. one of the most important pieces of data assigned to you, have found their way onto the dark web. Thanks to breaches at major companies, government sites and even health care providers, millions of SSNs are floating around in cybercriminal circles. It’s alarming, but is it really that big of a deal? The answer – yes, it is. Here’s why a compromised SSN can wreak havoc on your life, how to check if yours has been leaked and what to do if it has.

Is A Leaked Social Security Number Really That Serious?

Your Social Security number is a key piece of your identity, especially in the US. With just your SSN, a hacker can unlock a world of financial and personal information, allowing them to impersonate you, take out loans and potentially access sensitive accounts. Even if you don’t see the immediate impact, criminals can hold on to SSNs for years, waiting for the right moment to strike.

What Can Happen If Someone Has Your Social Security Number?

Having your SSN in the wrong hands can lead to:
  • Identity Theft: Fraudsters can use your SSN to open credit accounts, take out loans or even file false tax returns in your name.
  • Employment Fraud: Someone could use your SSN to obtain a job, which could leave you with unexpected tax issues.
  • Medical Fraud: Some criminals use stolen SSNs to receive health care under someone else’s name, leaving you with false medical records that can complicate future care.
Take the Equifax data breach back in 2017. This incident exposed the SSNs and personal information of 147 million people. Many of these victims faced issues ranging from fraudulent credit card applications to false tax returns, with some people still dealing with the fallout today. The Equifax case is a perfect example of how serious SSN exposure can be and proof that it happens.

Signs Your Social Security Number Has Been Stolen

Worried your SSN might already be in use? Here are some red flags to watch for:
  • Unexpected Mail: You receive credit card offers, debt collection notices or bills for accounts you didn’t open.
  • Credit Report Surprises: Your credit report shows accounts you don’t recognize or inquiries from unfamiliar sources.
  • Tax Return Issues: The IRS notifies you of multiple tax returns filed under your name, or you’re denied a refund you were expecting.
  • Health Care Records: You notice unfamiliar medical bills or strange entries in your medical records.

How To Check If Your SSN Was Leaked – And What You Can Do To Protect It

Whether you’ve experienced some of these red flags or you just want to check, here are a few ways to do so and ways to protect yourself from becoming a victim:
  1. Monitor Your Credit Report Start by checking your credit report for any unfamiliar accounts. You’re entitled to a free credit report annually from each of the major credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax). Make it a habit to review these reports for signs of unusual activity.
  2. Use An Identity Theft Protection Service Services like Experian IdentityWorks or LifeLock can monitor your SSN and notify you if it’s being used in a suspicious way. While they can’t prevent identity theft, they can help you catch and respond to issues faster.
  3. Freeze Your Credit Freezing your credit is one of the most effective ways to prevent fraud. A freeze restricts access to your credit report, making it much harder for someone to open accounts in your name. You can freeze and unfreeze your credit for free through each of the three major credit bureaus.
  4. Sign Up For SSN Alerts The Social Security Administration offers an option to set up alerts for certain types of activity, like changes to your Social Security account. While not comprehensive, it’s an extra layer of awareness that can help you catch fraud early.

What To Do Immediately If Your SSN Is Leaked

If you confirm that your SSN is compromised, it’s important to take these actions right away:
  1. File A Report With The FTC Visit IdentityTheft.gov to file a report with the Federal Trade Commission. This site will guide you through a recovery plan based on your situation.
  2. Contact The Credit Bureaus Notify the credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) that your SSN has been compromised. Place a fraud alert on your credit report to make lenders take extra steps to verify your identity before issuing credit.
  3. Freeze Your Credit If you haven’t already, place a freeze on your credit report to prevent new accounts from being opened in your name.
  4. File A Police Report If the identity theft has led to financial loss or involves criminal activity, consider filing a report with your local police department. This can be useful documentation for resolving issues with creditors.
  5. Notify Financial Institutions Contact your bank and any other financial institutions you have accounts with to let them know your SSN has been compromised. They can place alerts on your accounts and monitor for suspicious activity.

Protecting Your Business: Why Cybersecurity Matters

For small and medium-sized businesses, protecting Social Security numbers and other personally identifiable information is essential to business security. A compromised SSN can lead to various security risks, including identity theft for employees and clients, unauthorized access to financial accounts and potential data breaches. Since businesses often store sensitive employee and client information, an SSN leak can expose not only individuals but also the business itself to legal and financial risks, as well as reputational damage. Ensuring your business has a strong cybersecurity plan, including data encryption, network security and employee education, is the best way to protect sensitive information and prevent data leaks.

Physician Financial Management Resources

]]> Another HIPAA Settlement https://www.rtacpa.com/another-hipaa-settlement/ Mon, 16 Jun 2025 16:51:46 +0000 https://www.rtacpa.com/?p=30581 Another Day Another HIPAA Violation https://www.rtacpa.com/another-day-another-hipaa-violation/ Mon, 31 Mar 2025 17:42:48 +0000 https://www.rtacpa.com/?p=30533 Navigating HIPAA Compliance: A Costly Oversight at Health Fitness The “Risk Analysis provision” of HIPAA requires a regulated organization to conduct an accurate and thorough assessment of the potential risks and vulnerabilities to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic protected health information (ePHI) held by that organization. The Risk Analysis Initiative was created to focus select Office for Civil rights (OCR) investigations on compliance with the HIPAA Security Rule Risk Analysis provision to increase the number of completed Security Rule investigations involving potential violations of the Risk Analysis provision.

Health Fitness Pays $227,816 Settlement & 2 Year Corrective Action Plan

OCR received four breach reports over a 3-month period from Health Fitness, filed on behalf of multiple covered entities as their business associate. Health Fitness reported that ePHI became discoverable on the internet and was exposed to automated search devices (web crawlers) resulting from a software misconfiguration on the server housing the ePHI. Health Fitness discovered the breach on June 27, 2018. OCR’s investigation determined that Health Fitness had failed to conduct an accurate and thorough risk analysis, until January 19, 2024, to determine the potential risks and vulnerabilities to the ePHI held by Health Fitness. Under the terms of the resolution agreement, Health Fitness agreed to implement a corrective action plan that OCR will monitor for two years and paid $227,816 to OCR. Under the corrective action plan, Health Fitness committed to take steps to ensure compliance with the HIPAA Security Rule and protect the security of ePHI, including:
  • Annually reviewing and updating as necessary its risk analysis to determine the potential risks and vulnerabilities to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of its ePHI;
  • Developing and implementing a risk management plan to address and mitigate security risks and vulnerabilities identified in its risk analysis;
  • Implementing a process for evaluating environmental and operational changes that affect the security of ePHI; and
  • Developing, maintaining, and revising, as necessary, certain written policies and procedures to comply with the HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules.

Is Your Healthcare Organization Really HIPAA Compliant?

In addition to training and education, OCR recommends health care providers, health plans, health care clearinghouses, and business associates that are covered by HIPAA take the following steps to mitigate or prevent cyber-threats:
  • Review all vendor and contractor relationships to ensure business associate agreements are in place as appropriate and address breach/security incident obligations.
    • Integrate risk analysis and risk management into business processes regularly.  Get the free SRA tool from HealthIT.gov.
    • Ensure audit controls are in place to record and examine information system activity.
    • Implement regular review of information system activity.
  • Use mechanisms to authenticate information to ensure only authorized users are accessing ePHI.
    • Encrypt ePHI to guard against unauthorized access to ePHI.
    • Incorporate lessons learned from incidents into the overall security management process.
OCR states training should be provided specific to the organization and job responsibilities and on regular basis and reinforce workforce members’ critical role in protecting privacy and security.

HIPAA Training Online

The American Institute of Healthcare Compliance is a licensing/certification partner with CMS and offers various levels of HIPAA training online:

Additional Resources for Medical Practice Oversight

-->]]> Protecting Your Medical Practice from Theft https://www.rtacpa.com/protecting-your-medical-practice-from-theft/ Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:01:48 +0000 https://www.rtacpa.com/?p=30477 10 Reasons Why You Should Prepare a Will https://www.rtacpa.com/10-reasons-why-you-should-prepare-a-will/ Tue, 11 Feb 2025 01:50:18 +0000 https://www.rtacpa.com/?p=30464 HIPAA Ransomware Cybersecurity Investigation https://www.rtacpa.com/hipaa-ransomware-cybersecurity-investigation/ Sat, 18 Jan 2025 01:12:28 +0000 https://www.rtacpa.com/?p=30456 2025 MIPS Resources https://www.rtacpa.com/2025-mips-resources/ Tue, 07 Jan 2025 00:12:48 +0000 https://www.rtacpa.com/?p=30452 ...]]> 2025 MIPS Resources The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted new 2025 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) resources to the QPP Resource Library. Please note, some of these resources are displaying incorrect posting dates on the QPP Resource Library. CMS is working to resolve the issue to reflect the correct dates resources are posted but all files are the most recent versions.

 2025 MIPS Quality Measure Specifications

The following documents, which provide comprehensive descriptions and details on 2025 quality measures, are available: To note, the specifications for the following two measures will be posted in the coming days: 
  • 2025 Acute Cardiovascular-Related Admission Rates for Patients with Heart Failure
  • 2025 Clinician and Clinician Group Risk-standardized Hospital Admission Rates for Patients with Multiple Chronic Condition
As a reminder, the 2025 Electronic Clinical Quality Measure Specifications have been available on the Electronic Clinical Quality Improvement (eCQI) website since Spring 2024. The slide deck and recording from the 2025 QPP Final Rule Webinar are available on the QPP Webinar Library.

Additional 2025 MIPS Measures and Activities Resources

The following resources related to other MIPS performance categories are now also available: The Explore Measures & Activities tool on the QPP website will be updated for the 2025 performance year soon. 2025 Quality Historical Benchmarks will also be available in the next month.

Additional Resources for Medical Practice Management

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