CMS Delays 2019 MIPS Submission Deadline to April 30, 2020, Adds Hardship Exception for COVID-19; Provides Relief for 2019 Fourth Quarter ASC Quality Reporting
On March 22, 2020, CMS announced it would extend the deadline to submit 2019 MIPS data until April 30, 2020. In addition, CMS created a new extreme and uncontrollable circumstances hardship policy so that any physician or group who fails to report 2019 MIPS data by April 30, 2020 will receive a neutral payment adjustment in 2021. CMS is also evaluating options for providing relief for the 2020 MIPS performance year.
Physicians who have not submitted any MIPS data by April 30, 2020 do not need to take any additional action to qualify for the automatic extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy. These clinicians will be automatically identified and receive a neutral payment adjustment for the 2021 MIPS payment year. All four MIPS performance categories for these clinicians will be weighted at zero percent, resulting in a score equal to the performance threshold, and a neutral MIPS payment adjustment for the 2021 MIPS payment year. However, if a MIPS eligible clinician submits data on two or more MIPS performance categories, they will be scored and receive a 2021 MIPS payment adjustment based on their 2019 MIPS final score.