The News We Have Been Waiting For!
CMS Announces Relief for 2020 QPP (MIPS) Participants in Response to the COVID19 Pandemic
As we continue to manage the impact of the COVID19 pandemic, CMS is now offering flexible reporting options for 2020 QPP/ MIPS participants.
What you need to know:
Any clinician significantly impacted by COVID19, can submit an Extreme & Uncontrollable Circumstances Application to CMS.
Application Deadline: December 31, 2020 at 8 p.m. ET.
*QPP log in will be required to submit application.
https://qpp.cms.gov/mips/exception-applications#extremeCircumstancesException-2020
Circumstances Covered:
Public health emergency (COVID19).
Inability to collect information needed to report for MIPS successfully.
Unable to collect sufficient data due to office closings.
Performance has been impacted due to new workflows implemented such as using Telehealth services to provide patient care outside of the office setting.
What does it mean?
You can apply for a complete exception for all 4 categories, no attestation required.
You can continue to attest / submit using your best performance categories and the remaining categories will be re-weighted. For example, the categories that were harder to achieve due to the pandemic.
Performance categories include:
Quality
Cost
Improvement Activity
Promoting Interoperability
Complete Exception:
Submit application for all 4 categories to be re-weighted - Application Approved.
All categories are re-weighted to 0% > Neutral adjustment > No incentive, no penalty.
Reweigh Selected Categories:
Submit data for 2 or more categories, other categories are re-weighted to 0% based on application.
Submission of 2 or more categories allow for possible positive incentive.
> Final score will be based on category data sent.
> Possible positive incentive, no penalty.
Adjustment Examples:
Approvals/ Denials
CMS will send an email with approval or denial after the application/ circumstances have been reviewed. If approved, submission would not be necessary for the categories requested in application.
eHealth is here to help and answer any additional question you have. We still encourage everyone to submit if your score is over 85 as it qualifies you as an “Exceptional Performer.” The possibility of receiving a positive incentive is still available, any little bit helps during these trying times.