CMS offers data reporting relief in response to COVID-19

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended the deadline to report data for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2019 performance year, as requested in a recent letter from the American Academy of Family Physicians. Practices now have until April 30, 2020, to submit data. The original deadline was March 31. This new deadline, part of the agency’s response to COVID-19, also applies to participants in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP).

Practices that have not submitted data by the April 30 deadline will also automatically qualify for the extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy and receive a neutral payment adjustment for the 2021 MIPS payment year. Practices do not need to do anything to apply for this exception – CMS will apply it automatically.

Practices that already submitted data, or submit data by April 30, will be scored and receive a performance-based payment adjustment. Eligible clinicians and groups must submit data on at least two performance categories to receive a MIPS final score and payment adjustment. Practices that submitted quality data using Medicare Part B claims must also submit data on at least one other category (improvement activities or promoting interoperability) to receive a final score. If you already reported quality data using Medicare Part B claims, but do not submit data for any other category by April 30, you will also qualify for the extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy. Practices can log in to the Quality Payment Program (QPP) Portal to view reports or data that have already been submitted.

CMS is currently evaluating options for reporting relief for the 2020 performance year. For additional questions, contact the QPP Help Desk, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, at 866-288-8292.

— Erin Solis, Manager of Practice and Payment at the American Academy of Family Physicians