As part of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is applying the automatic extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy to all MIPS-eligible clinicians for the 2020 performance period. The MIPS extreme and uncontrollable circumstances exception application window has been reopened through March 31, 2021, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.

Applications are currently being accepted for:

  • Individual MIPS-eligible clinicians
  • MIPS-eligible groups
  • MIPS-eligible virtual groups
  • Alternative payment model (APM) entities

Any applications received by March 31 will not override any previously submitted data. Both individuals and groups that have submitted data and those that have not submitted data may still apply for the exception but will have different requirements. APM entities participating in MIPS APMs also may submit an extreme and uncontrollable circumstances exception application. APM entities that don’t submit data or the application will receive a negative payment adjustment in the 2022 payment year.

More details about the extreme and uncontrollable circumstances exception can be found on the Quality Payment Program website.  Download the 2020 MIPS automatic extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy fact sheet from the QPP website.

Contact QPP@cms.hhs.gov for questions about the policy or application.

Learn more about MIPS from the AASM.