CMS extended the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Exception application deadline to March 31.  This exception is open to practices that, as a result of COVID-19, may have underperformed on cost measures or could not collect data for an extended period of time for any category.

Who should apply

Individual clinicians and groups that have submitted no MIPS data will receive this exception automatically and do not need to submit an application or take any other action at this time.

Groups that have submitted data for one category (for example, via claims throughout 2020) should request an exception if they will not be able to submit for the other categories. Please note: If your practice already submitted data for one category, the exception will not override that data, and you will still receive a score for that category.   

How to apply

1. Log into your account at qpp.cms.gov.

2. Select Exceptions Applications. 

2. Select one or more categories to have re-weighted to 0% of your final score. Please note: Your practice may be eligible for re-weighting in some categories but not others. For example:

• Quality scores cover the full year, so if you were unable to collect data for at least three months, this would affect your ability to submit Quality data.

• Improvement Activities scores cover any continuous 90-day period, so a three-month disruption may not affect your ability to submit Improvement Activities data.

• Exemptions based on performance are only considered for the cost category.

• Exemptions based on issues with data collection may apply to any category.

Visit the MIPS website for more information.