The data submission period for MIPS-eligible clinicians who participated in the 2020 performance year of the QPP ends at 8:00 p.m. EDT on March 31, 2021.

The CMS continues to offer flexibilities to provide relief to clinicians responding to the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. CMS will be applying the MIPS automatic extreme and uncontrollable circumstances (EUC) policy to all MIPS-eligible clinicians for the 2020 performance period. CMS is also reopening the MIPS EUC application for individual MIPS-eligible clinicians, groups, virtual groups, and Alternative Payment Model (APM) Entities through March 31, 2021 at 8 p.m. ET. 

CMS released the Request for Applications (RFA) for Cohort 2 of the Primary Care First (PCF) Model. Practices that participate in PCF become excluded from MIPS reporting and payment adjustments if you become a Qualifying APM Participant (QP). The application deadline is April 30, 2021. Webinars for interested applicants will be held and will include a live question and answer session. 

Access the RFA, application, webinar registration, and more on the CMS Primary Care First website. 

Each year, HSAG checks in with every eligible clinician and practice to ensure their plans for MIPS reporting are on track. You may receive phone calls, emails, and or fax communication from HSAG throughout the year. HSAG's goal is to ensure you are prepared to submit your best MIPS score. The team of QPP subject matter experts are excited to connect with you and learn more about your MIPS reporting plans this year. If your practice knows your MIPS reporting plans for 2021 now, click here to let HSAG know. By submitting your MIPS participation plans online, HSAG will not reach out via phone, and you can contact HSAG when you need to!  

HSAG is 1 of 11 organizations awarded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as a QPP Technical Assistance Support Contractor. Since 2017, HSAG has been your trusted resource, available to Medicare providers in Arizona, California, Hawaii, New Mexico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Also, in partnership with Alliant Quality, HSAG is Florida’s technical assistance contractor for the QPP. HSAG provides assistance on MIPS and Alternative Payment Models (APMs); two reporting paths under the QPP. Its services are provided at no cost to you. 

Review and use the 2021 MIPS Data Submission Countdown in your practice team meetings to stay on track with monthly and quarterly MIPS tasks and goals.

View all QPP/MIPS Tools and Resources at our website.

To prepare for the 2020 MIPS data submission and beginning of the 2021 MIPS performance year, CMS has posted new resources to the QPP Resource Library. HSAG has also gathered these resources at the HSAG QPP Service Center's Tools and Resources page.

 View all new and updated resources on the CMS QPP Resource Library.

Registration Begins for CMS Web Interface and Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems^® (CAHPS^®) for MIPS Survey.

Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 2:00–3:30 p.m. ET

Answer: CMS reviews past and current Medicare Part B Claims and Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS) data for clinicians and practices twice for each Performance Year. Each review, or “segment”, looks at a 12-month period.

For more information please review the 2021 Determination Periods and Snapshots.

Answer: In the QPP, there are certain factors (including Special Statuses, QPP Exceptions, and Facility-based Determinations and the Quality Measures Reporting Study that can affect your reporting requirements for the different performance categories under traditional MIPS or the APM Performance Pathway (APP). These factors can result in bonus points or reduced reporting requirements for a specific performance category.

Would you like to share your feedback on an existing design, new concept, or interactive prototype for the CMS QPP website and potentially earn Improvement Activities credit? For more information and to join the user research program, please visit the QPP HCD page on the CMS QPP website.

Invite your practice staff, practices you refer patients to, and other colleagues to subscribe to HSAG’s QPP Quest Digest! Stay informed of all monthly QPP updates, deadlines, no-cost webinars and best practices by subscribing here.

Don't forget to sign up on the CMS.gov QPP website. Once you've accessed the QPP page, scroll to [Subscribe to Updates] at the bottom of the page and insert your email address before clicking [Subscribe]. The QPP listserv is a valuable resource to stay informed of webinars and important QPP deadlines.