CMS to Apply MIPS Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Policy In Response to COVID-19, Reopens Application

CMS is offering multiple flexibilities to provide relief to clinicians responding to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In addition to extending the 2019 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) data submission deadline to April 30, 2020 at 8 PM ET, the MIPS automatic extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy will apply to MIPS eligible clinicians who do not submit their MIPS data by the April 30 deadline.

If you are a MIPS eligible clinician and do not submit any MIPS data by April 30, 2020, you won’t need to take any additional action to qualify for the automatic extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy. You will be automatically identified and will receive a neutral payment adjustment for the 2021 MIPS payment year. Please note, CMS has updated the QPP Participation Status Tool so eligible clinicians can see if the policy has been automatically applied.

Additional 2019 Relief Measure

We are also reopening the MIPS extreme and uncontrollable circumstances application for individuals, groups, and virtual groups.

Who should submit an application?

Individual clinicians who started, but are unable to complete, their data submission;
Groups that started, but are unable to complete, their data submission; and
Virtual groups that are unable to start or complete their data submission.

An application submitted between April 3 and April 30, 2020, citing COVID-19, will override any previous data submission.

For more information, please see the Quality Payment Program COVID-19 Response Fact Sheet.

You can contact the Quality Payment program at 1-866-288-8292, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM-8:00 PM ET or by e-mail at: QPP@cms.hhs.gov.