Hurricane Ida Added to Automatic Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Policy for MIPS

Members & Publications

September 17, 2021

In response to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designation of Hurricane Ida as a major disaster, CMS has determined that the automatic extreme and uncontrollable circumstances (EUC) policy will apply to Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligible clinicians in FEMA-designated disaster areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, New Jersey, and Missouri.

MIPS eligible clinicians in these areas will be automatically identified and receive a neutral payment adjustment for the 2023 MIPS payment year. During the data submission period for the 2021 performance period (January 3, 2022 to March 31, 2022), all 4 performance categories for these clinicians will be weighted at 0%, resulting in a score equal to the performance threshold.

  • However, if MIPS eligible clinicians in these areas choose to submit data on 2 or more performance categories, they’ll be scored on those categories and receive a 2023 MIPS payment adjustment based on their 2021 MIPS final score.

The automatic EUC policy won’t apply to MIPS eligible clinicians participating in MIPS as a group, virtual group, or Alternative Payment Model (APM) Entity.

For More Information

Please reference the Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Overview section on the MIPS > About Exception Applications page and the 2021 MIPS Automatic EUC Fact Sheet.

Questions?

Contact the Quality Payment Program at 1-866-288-8292 or by e-mail at: QPP@cms.hhs.gov, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.- 8 p.m. ET. To receive assistance more quickly, please consider calling during non-peak hours—before 10 a.m. and after 2 p.m. ET.

Customers who are hearing impaired can dial 711 to be connected to a TRS Communications Assistant.

Legislation Introduced to Alleviate Impact of Conversion Factor Cut for 2021

Nov 09, 2020

Last month, two bills were introduced in the House proposing solutions to the estimated 10.6% Physician Fee Schedule conversion factor cut expected to go into effect January 1, 2021.  The bills offer some relief to the cut, but do not reflect a comprehensive or long-term solution.  AAPM&R has therefore chosen to remain neutral regarding these bills. 

Your Academy continues to advocate for a permanent solution to the conversion factor cut while maintaining the important payment increases to office and outpatient evaluation and management services.