CMS/Medicare Announces Relief for MIPS in Response to COVID-19

Important Relief For the MIPS Program in Light of COVID-19

If you have one or more physical therapists who participated in MIPS in 2019 or are participating for 2020, it's important that you know some of the changes that CMS has announced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the 2019 MIPS Program Year

Change to data submission deadline

CMS has announced that the deadline for data submission has been extended from March 31, 2020 to April 30, 2020. This allows for an extra month to submit data.

If no data is submitted, automatic extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy will apply

Private practice Physical therapists who are participating in MIPS (either by opt-in or by requirement) who do not submit data by April 30th will automatically qualify for the extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy AND receive a neutral payment adjustment. The 2019 program year payment adjustments are reflected in 2021 payments.

For the 2020 MIPS Program Year

Medicare, as of this blog post, has indicated that they are looking into what to do for the 2020 program year and that future updates will be provided.

The Bottom Line

If you were participating in MIPS for 2019, you can submit your MIPS data late or not submit it at all and receive a neutral payment adjustment.