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CMS Announces Relief for Clinicians, Providers, Hospitals, and Facilities Participating in Quality Reporting Programs in Response to COVID-19

Members & Publications

March 23, 2020

On March 22, CMS announced it has given eligible clinicians that need to report via the Quality Payment Program's (QPP) Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) an extension or a neutral payment adjustment for 2019 reporting, due to COVID-19.

  • All clinicians, regardless of practice setting, that bill over $90,000 in allowed charges under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule OR provide care for more than 200 Medicare beneficiaries must participate in MIPS reporting annually. If you are unsure of your eligibility status, use the CMS QPP Participation Status tool to check.
  • If you are eligible for 2019 reporting, and plan on submitting data to CMS, but have not yet, the original deadline of March 31, 2020 has been pushed back to April 30, 2020.
  • If you are eligible for 2019 reporting, but unable to submit data to CMS, all eligible clinicians will qualify for the automatic extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy and will receive a neutral (0) payment adjustment for the 2021 MIPS payment year.

CMS is currently evaluating 2020 reporting relief options. AAPM&R will continue to advocate for these requirements to be waived until the COVID-19 crisis has passed. We will monitor this situation and alert you of any updates. Please email healthpolicy@aapmr.org with any questions you may have.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

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