CMS announces relief for clinicians and facilities participating in quality payment program in response to COVID-19

On Monday, March 23, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid announced relief for clinicians, providers and facilities participating in Medicare quality reporting programs, as health care professionals battle COVID-19. This relief will include granting exceptions and extensions for upcoming reporting requirements and data submission deadlines.

The 2019 data submission deadlines for both the Merit-based Incentive Payment System and Medicare Shared Savings Program for Accountable Care Organizations have been extended to April 30, 2020. MIPS-eligible clinicians who have not submitted any MIPS data by April 30, 2020, will qualify for the automatic extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy and will receive a neutral payment adjustment for the 2021 MIPS payment year. CMS has not yet determined how to manage 2020 data submission.

For all hospital programs, data submission for the fourth quarter of 2019 (October 1 – December 31) is optional. If Q4 data is submitted, it will be used to calculate 2019 performance and payment, where appropriate. If Q4 data is not submitted, the 2019 performance will be calculated based on data from January 1 – September 31, 2019. CMS will not count data from January 1 – June 30, 2020, for performance or payment programs. Data does not need to be submitted for this time period.

Review the complete CMS announcement here.