New Event Added to Automatic Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances for MIPS

Important Information Regarding MIPS Eligible Clinicians Affected by Hurricane Dorian

In response to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designation of Hurricane Dorian as a national disaster, CMS has determined that the automatic extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy will apply to Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligible clinicians in FEMA-identified North Carolina and South Carolina areas.

MIPS eligible clinicians in these areas will be automatically identified and receive a neutral payment adjustment for the 2021 MIPS payment year. During the data submission period for the 2019 performance period (January 2, 2020 to March 31, 2020), all four performance categories for these clinicians will be weighted at zero percent, resulting in a score equal to the performance threshold.

However, if MIPS eligible clinicians in these areas choose to submit data on two or more performance categories, they will be scored on those categories and receive a 2021 MIPS payment adjustment based on their 2019 MIPS final score.

The automatic extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy will not apply to MIPS eligible clinicians in MIPS Alternative Payment Models (APMs) who are subject to the APM scoring standard for the 2019 performance period, or to those participating in MIPS as groups or virtual groups.

For More Information

Please reference the Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Overview section on the MIPS > About Exception Applications page.

You can also contact the 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. To receive assistance more quickly, consider calling during non-peak hours—before 10 a.m. and after 2 p.m. ET.