MIPS Eligible Clinicians Affected by Super Typhoon Yutu

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is granting exceptions[1] under certain Medicare quality reporting and value-based purchasing programs including the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).

The MIPS Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances policy applies to MIPS eligible clinicians affected by triggering events that affect an entire region or locale. Given the Northern Mariana Islands Super Typhoon Yutu’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designation on October 26, 2018, we consider it to be such a triggering event, and the automatic extreme and uncontrollable circumstance policy therefore applies to the counties listed below:

Northern Islands (Municipality)
Rota (Municipality),
Saipan (Municipality) and
Tinian (Municipality)

The data submission period for the 2018 performance period is January 2, 2019‒April 2, 2019. MIPS eligible clinicians in FEMA designated areas affected by Super Typhoon Yutu will be automatically identified, and no action or application is required.

However, if you are automatically identified, but still choose to submit data on two or more MIPS performance categories (either as an individual or group), you’ll be scored on those performance categories, and your 2020 MIPS payment adjustment will be based on your 2018 MIPS final score.

CMS is closely monitoring the situation and will update exception lists soon after any events occur in the future. Our thoughts are with all those impacted.

For More Information

FEMA Website: Northern Mariana Islands Super Typhoon Yutu (DR-4404)
Quality Payment Program Website
Quality Payment Program Service Center at (866) 288-8292/TTY (877) 715- 6222, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. ‒ 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time or by email at qpp@cms.hhs.gov.

[1] The terminology “exception” is used as a general term intended for ease of reference, to collectively refer to policies established under separate programs, and may not be consistent with the specific terminology established under each individual program.

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