December 21, 2022
Note: CMS has extended the MIPS Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances application deadline for the 2022 MIPS performance year until March 3, 2023
Physicians and physician groups are reminded that the deadline to apply for a 2022 Medicare hardship exception is January 3, 2023. While COVID-19 flexibilities are still in place due to the public health emergency, the exceptions will not be automatically applied as they have been the past two years.
Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligible clinicians, groups, and virtual groups may apply to reweight any or all MIPS performance categories if they’ve been affected by extreme and uncontrollable circumstances, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Extreme and uncontrollable circumstances are defined as rare events entirely outside of your control and the control of the facility in which you practice.
If you believe you’ve been affected by an extreme and uncontrollable circumstance (such as the public health emergency triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic), you can apply whether reporting traditional MIPS or the APM Performance Pathway (APP). MIPS exception application for performance year 2022 (payment year 2024) will be accepted through 5 p.m. Pacific Time on January 3, 2023.
Learn more in the 2022 MIPS Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Application Guide (PDF).