The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released several updates related to the Quality Payment Program, including exception applications, extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policies, and the Doctors and Clinicians Preview Period.
Exception applications
On May 5, CMS issued a reminder that exception applications for the 2026 Quality Payment Program are available through Dec. 31, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET.
Exception applications allow clinicians to specify the reason for their inability to report data for one or more Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) performance categories, including:
- MIPS Promoting Interoperability performance category hardship exception application
- MIPS extreme and uncontrollable circumstances exception application
Individual clinicians, groups, and virtual groups, as well asor third-party representatives, who meet the requirements for either exception may request reweighing of one or more MIPS performance categories. Additional information and the application details are available here.
Extreme and uncontrollable circumstances
CMS also announced that the extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy will be applied to MIPS-eligible clinicians impacted by the Hawaii Kona low weather systems and Typhoon Sinlaku in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
For affected clinicians, performance categories will be reweighed to 0% for the 2026 performance year, and participants will receive a neutral payment adjustment for the 2028 MIPS payment year. Additional information is available here. The application deadline is Dec. 31, 2026, 8 p.m. ET.
Members are also encouraged to review their eligibility for the AASM Foundation Disaster Relief Fund and, if applicable, apply for financial assistance.
Doctors and Clinicians Preview Period
On May 7, CMS announced that the 2024 Quality Payment Program Doctors and Clinicians Preview Period will be available on the QPP website from May 13 through June 11, 2026, ending at 8 p.m. ET.
This preview period provides early access to 2024 performance data before it becomes publicly available.
Members with questions about the Quality Payment Program may contact quality@aasm.org.
