Updates to 2017 Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Policy for MIPS Clinicians

January 29, 2018

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has updated its Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances policy for the 2017 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) transition year to include counties affected by Hurricane Nate and additional counties affected by the California wildfires. CMS understands that living in an area where these disasters took place may impact your resources to collect or submit data on time.

The data submission period for the 2017 transition year of MIPS is January 2- March 31, 2018. MIPS eligible clinicians in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designated areas affected by Northern California wildfires and Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate will be automatically identified. No action is required. However, if you are automatically identified but still choose to submit data on two or more MIPS performance categories (either as an individual or group), you’ll be scored on those performance categories and your MIPS payment adjustment will be based on your final score.

MIPS eligible clinicians in these newly identified designated areas for Hurricane Nate and the California Wildfires are now covered by the Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances policy:

• Alabama: Autauga, Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Dallas, Macon, Mobile, and Washington
• Mississippi: George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, and Stone
• California: Butte, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Santa Barbara, Solano, Sonoma, Ventura, and Yuba

To learn more about the policy and all the designated areas for the 2017 transition year, view the interim final rule with comment period and the Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Policy for MIPS in 2017 Fact Sheet.    

Questions? The Quality Payment Program Service Center can be reached at 1-866-288-8292 (TTY 1-877- 715- 6222), Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM-8:00 PM Eastern time or by email at: QPP@cms.hhs.gov.