CMS published the calendar year (CY) 2022 Medicare PFS Final Rule, which includes the final policies for the 2022 performance year of the QPP. The rule affects traditional MIPS, MIPS Value Pathways (MVPs), the APM Performance Pathway (APP), Advanced APMs, and the Medicare Shared Savings Program (Shared Savings Program).

For more, visit HSAG's November Quest Details page, where the 2023 and Beyond QPP Final Rule Highlights—Additional Finalized Policies is presented.

CMS continues to provide relief where possible to clinicians responding to the 2019 Coronavirus COVID-19 PHE. CMS is applying the MIPS automatic EUC policy to individually eligible MIPS-eligible clinicians for the 2021 performance year (PY). Please note that this announcement is for PY2021 only.

The automatic EUC policy only applies to MIPS-eligible clinicians who are eligible to participate in MIPS as individuals. The automatic EUC policy does not apply to groups, virtual groups, or APM Entities.

Learn what this means to your practice by visiting HSAG's November Quest Details page, where the 2021 MIPS Automatic EUC Policy information is presented.

2021 MIPS Automatic EUC Fact Sheet (PDF)

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact all clinicians across the United States and territories, and CMS recognizes that not everyone may have been able to submit an EUC Exception Application for PY 2020 before the March 31, 2021 deadline. As part of its ongoing support for clinicians who are on the front lines of this public health emergency (PHE), CMS is allowing clinicians, groups, virtual groups, and APM Entities to request MIPS performance category reweighting for PY 2020 under its EUC policy through November 29, 2021 at 8 p.m. ET.

Please review the 2020 EUC: Reweighting Requests Extension Guide (PDF) for step-by-step instructions with screenshots.

Please review the new resources that CMS has added 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.

Happy holidays!

View the following resource to assist in planning for 2021 MIPS reporting:

Question: What happens if I’ve submitted Medicare Part B claims prior to a triggering event for the automatic EUC policy? 

Answer: If a MIPS-eligible clinician in a small practice reports Medicare Part B claims measures for the quality performance category, Medicare Part B claims data would only contribute to the MIPS-eligible clinician's individual final score if he also submits data for either the Promoting Interoperability or the Improvement Activities performance categories as an individual.  

REMINDER: When clinicians report Medicare Part B Claims measures, CMS automatically calculates a score for the quality performance category at the individual and group level. Clinicians in these small practices who are only eligible to participate in MIPS as a group will receive the group’s final score unless the group has an approved PY 2021 EUC Exception Application to reweight the remaining 3 performance categories. 

Each year, Health Services Advisory Group (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 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. 

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.