qpp.cms.gov Open in urlscan Pro
96.16.91.96  Public Scan

Form analysis
2 forms found in the DOM

GET https://search.usa.gov/search

<form id="search_form" accept-charset="UTF-8" action="https://search.usa.gov/search" aria-labelledby="site-search-label" role="search" method="get" class="qpp-c-search qpp-c-search--global  qpp-u-width--100">
  <div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="✓"></div><input id="affiliate" name="affiliate" type="hidden" value="qpp_search-gov-index"><label id="site-search-label" class="qpp-u-visually-hidden"
    for="query">Site Search</label>
  <div class="qpp-u-width--100 qpp-u-display--flex">
    <div class="qpp-c-search__wrap"><input autocomplete="off" class="qpp-c-text-input" id="query" name="query" type="text" maxlength="50" value=""></div><button name="commit" id="global-search" type="submit"
      class="qpp-c-search__submit qpp-c-button qpp-c-button--secondary"><span class="qpp-u-visually-hidden">Search</span><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 24 24" class="qpp-icon-mat qpp-icon-inline--lg" aria-hidden="true"
        focusable="false">
        <path d="M15.5 14h-.79l-.28-.27A6.471 6.471 0 0 0 16 9.5 6.5 6.5 0 1 0 9.5 16c1.61 0 3.09-.59 4.23-1.57l.27.28v.79l5 4.99L20.49 19l-4.99-5zm-6 0C7.01 14 5 11.99 5 9.5S7.01 5 9.5 5 14 7.01 14 9.5 11.99 14 9.5 14z"></path>
      </svg></button>
  </div>
</form>

GET https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USCMS/subscriber/qualify

<form action="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USCMS/subscriber/qualify" target="_blank" accept-charset="UTF-8" method="get" rel="noopener noreferrer"><input type="hidden" name="topic_id" value="USCMS_12196"><label class="sr-only"
    for="email-subscribe">Email address</label><input id="email-subscribe" class="form-control" type="email" name="email" placeholder="Enter your Email"><button class="btn btn-subscribe js-subscribe-submit" type="submit"
    name="commit">Subscribe</button></form>

Text Content

Skip to content

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United
States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the
.gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Search (beta)

Site Search

Search
Give feedback about the Search experience
Help

Menu
 * About
   
   The Quality Payment Program
    * * QPP Overview
      * HCD Research Program

 * MIPS
   
   Merit-based Incentive Payment System
   
   
    * ELIGIBILITY
      
      * How MIPS Eligibility is Determined
      * MIPS Eligibility Determination Periods
      * Check Participation Status
   
    * Eligibility
      
      
       * How MIPS Eligibility is Determined
       * MIPS Eligibility Determination Periods
       * Check Participation Status
   
   
    * PARTICIPATION
      
      * Participation Options Overview
      * Individual or Group Participation
      * Virtual Group Participation
      * APM Entity Participation
   
    * Participation
      
      
       * Participation Options Overview
       * Individual or Group Participation
       * Virtual Group Participation
       * APM Entity Participation
   
   
    * TRADITIONAL MIPS REQUIREMENTS
      
      * Quality Requirements
      * Promoting Interoperability Requirements
      * Improvement Activities Requirements
      * Cost Requirements
      * Explore Measures & Activities
   
    * Traditional MIPS Requirements
      
      
       * Quality Requirements
       * Promoting Interoperability Requirements
       * Improvement Activities Requirements
       * Cost Requirements
       * Explore Measures & Activities
   
   
    * REPORTING FACTORS
      
      * Reporting Factors Overview
      * Special Status
      * Exception Applications
      * How to Register for the CAHPS for MIPS Survey
   
    * Reporting Factors
      
      
       * Reporting Factors Overview
       * Special Status
       * Exception Applications
       * How to Register for the CAHPS for MIPS Survey
   
   
    * REPORTING OPTIONS
      
      * Reporting Options Overview
      * Traditional MIPS
      * APM Performance Pathway
      * MIPS Value Pathways
      * Explore MIPS Value Pathways
      * Submit a Candidate MVP
      * MVP Candidate Feedback Process
      * MVP Maintenance Process
   
    * Reporting Options
      
      
       * Reporting Options Overview
       * Traditional MIPS
       * APM Performance Pathway
       * MIPS Value Pathways
       * Explore MIPS Value Pathways
       * Submit a Candidate MVP
       * MVP Candidate Feedback Process
       * MVP Maintenance Process
   
   
    * APM PERFORMANCE PATHWAY REQUIREMENTS
      
      * Quality Requirements
      * Promoting Interoperability Requirements
      * Improvement Activities Requirements
   
    * APM Performance Pathway Requirements
      
      
       * Quality Requirements
       * Promoting Interoperability Requirements
       * Improvement Activities Requirements

 * APMs
   
   Alternative Payment Models
    * * APMs Overview
      * MIPS APMs
      * Advanced APMs
      * All-Payer Advanced APMs
      * APM Determination Periods
      * Check Participation Status

 * Resources
   
   Help, Support and Resources
    * * COVID-19 Response
      * QPP Timeline and Important Deadlines
      * Resource Library
      * Glossary
      * Webinar Library
      * Help & Support
      * Small Practices
      * Participation and Performance Data
      * Developer Tools

 * Sign In
   Manage Account
   and Register

 1. Home
 2. Reporting Factors Overview


QPP EXCEPTION APPLICATIONS

We understand that there may be circumstances out of your control that make it
difficult for you to meet program requirements. To reduce this burden, we
provide the opportunity to apply for exceptions to meeting Merit-based Incentive
Payment System (MIPS) program requirements. In certain circumstances, these
exceptions may be applied automatically. QPP exception guidelines may change
each

performance year
due to policy changes.




PERFORMANCE YEAR

Select your performance year.

Performance Year 2025Performance Year 2024Performance Year 2023Performance Year
2022Performance Year 2021

There are 2 exception applications available to clinicians:

 * The MIPS Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances (EUC) Exception application
   allows you to request reweighting for any or all performance categories if
   you encounter an extreme and uncontrollable circumstance that's outside of
   your control.
 * The MIPS Promoting Interoperability Performance Category Hardship
   Exception application allows you to request reweighting specifically for the
   Promoting Interoperability performance category if you qualify for one of the
   reasons identified below.


MIPS EUC EXCEPTION

MIPS eligible clinicians, groups, and virtual groups may submit an application
to request reweighting of any or all MIPS performance categories if they've been
affected by extreme and uncontrollable circumstances that impact these
performance categories. Clinicians that register to report a MIPS Value Pathway
(MVP) as a subgroup will inherit any reweighting approved for their affiliated
group. Alternative Payment Model (APM) Entities may submit an application but
are required to request reweighting for all performance categories.


CAN I APPLY FOR A MIPS EUC EXCEPTION?

Yes. The MIPS EUC Exception application for the 2024 performance year is
available. The application will be available until 8 p.m. ET on December 31,
2024. If you believe you’ve been affected by an extreme and uncontrollable
circumstance, you can apply for this exception whether reporting traditional
MIPS, MVPs, or the APM Performance Pathway (APP).

Extreme and uncontrollable circumstances are defined as rare events entirely
outside of your control and the control of the facility in which you practice.

These circumstances would:

 * Cause you to be unable to collect information necessary to submit for a MIPS
   performance category;
 * Cause you to be unable to submit information that would be used to score a
   MIPS performance category for an extended period of time (for example, if you
   were unable to collect data for the quality performance category for 3
   months), and/or;
 * Impact your normal processes, affecting your performance on cost measures and
   other administrative claims measures.

Updated

The 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency (PHE) ended on May 11,
2023. We’re not accepting applications due to COVID-19 for the 2024 performance
year.


HOW DO I APPLY?

You'll need a Health Care Quality Information System (HCQIS) Access Roles and
Profile (HARP) account to submit a MIPS EUC Exception application. Once you sign
in to QPP with your HARP credentials, click "Exceptions Application" on the
left-hand navigation and then select "Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances."

For more information on how to obtain a HARP account, refer to the Register for
a HARP Account document in the QPP Access User Guide (ZIP, 3MB).  

The MIPS EUC Exception application is available. The application submission
deadline is 8 p.m. ET on December 31, 2024.


PERFORMANCE YEAR 2024 EUC EXCEPTION APPLICATION IS AVAILABLE

Apply


HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M APPROVED?

You'll be notified by email if your request was approved or denied. You can also
check the status of your application by signing in to QPP. If approved, this
approval will also be added to your eligibility profile in the QPP Participation
Status Tool on a rolling basis. If your application is approved at the end of
the performance year, it may not appear in the QPP Participation Status Tool
until the submission window opens in 2025.


WHAT HAPPENS IF MY APPLICATION IS APPROVED?

If your application is approved, you don’t have to report for the requested MIPS
performance category or categories, and those categories will be reweighted.


CAN I STILL SUBMIT DATA?

Yes. Whether you qualify for automatic reweighting or have an approved exception
application, you can still report data. Data submission overrides approved
reweighting on a category-by-category basis; we’ll score any data you submit,
and those performance categories will contribute to your final score.

Example: You’re approved for reweighting in all 4 performance categories but
later determine you can collect and report data for the Promoting
Interoperability and improvement activities performance categories. Data
submission for these 2 performance categories won’t affect the quality and cost
performance categories which will still be weighted at 0% of your final score.


CAN APM ENTITIES SUBMIT AN EXCEPTION APPLICATION?

APM Entities participating in MIPS APMs can submit a MIPS EUC Exception
application with some differences from our existing policy for individuals,
groups, and virtual groups:

 * APM Entities are required to request reweighting for all performance
   categories.
 * At least 75% of the MIPS eligible clinicians in the APM Entity will need to
   qualify for reweighting in the Promoting Interoperability performance
   category.
 * Data submission for an APM Entity won't override performance category
   reweighting.

You'll be notified by email if your request was approved or denied. You can also
check the status of your application by signing in to QPP. If approved, this
approval will also be added to your eligibility profile in the QPP Participation
Status Tool on a rolling basis. If your application is approved at the end of
the performance year, it may not appear in the QPP Participation Status Tool
until the submission window opens in 2025.


IS THERE AN INSTANCE WHEN THE EUC EXCEPTION IS AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED?

Yes. MIPS eligible clinicians who are located in a Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS)-designated region that has been affected by an extreme
and uncontrollable circumstances event (such as a FEMA-designated major
disaster) during the 2024 performance year, receive the automatic extreme and
uncontrollable circumstances exception. We identify qualifying events through
the QPP Listserv (you can subscribe at the bottom of any page on the website).

The automatic extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy doesn't apply to
group, virtual group, or APM Entity participation.

MIPS eligible clinicians identified as affected by the automatic extreme and
uncontrollable circumstances event will have all 4 MIPS performance categories
reweighted to 0% of their final score unless they submit data for 2 or more
performance categories. These clinicians are automatically identified and don’t
need to submit an exception application.

If you qualify for the automatic exception and have an approved exception
application, the performance category reweighting from the automatic exception
will supersede any performance category reweighting approved through the
application.


MIPS PROMOTING INTEROPERABILITY PERFORMANCE CATEGORY HARDSHIP EXCEPTION



Certified electronic health record technology
(CEHRT) that meets the certification criteria at 45 CFR 170 is required for
participation in the Promoting Interoperability performance category in the 2024
performance period. Under MIPS, you may qualify for reweighting of the Promoting
Interoperability performance category (to 0%) if you meet certain criteria.




CAN I APPLY FOR A MIPS PROMOTING INTEROPERABILITY HARDSHIP EXCEPTION?

Yes. The MIPS Promoting Interoperability Performance Category Hardship Exception
application for the 2024 performance period is available. The application
deadline is 8 p.m. ET on December 31, 2024. MIPS eligible clinicians, groups,
and virtual groups may submit a MIPS Promoting Interoperability Performance
Category Hardship Exception application whether reporting traditional MIPS,
MVPs, or the APP. This application isn’t available to APM Entities. Hardship
exceptions are available for the following specified reasons:

 * You have decertified EHR technology (must be decertified under the Office of
   the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology’s (ONC) Health IT
   Certification Program).
 * You have insufficient internet connectivity.
 * You face extreme and uncontrollable circumstances such as a disaster,
   practice closure, severe financial distress, or vendor issues.
 * You lack control over the availability of CEHRT.

Simply lacking the required CEHRT doesn't qualify you for reweighting.

NOTE: If you're already exempt from submitting Promoting
Interoperability data, you don't need to apply for this application. Learn
more. 


HOW DO I APPLY? 

You'll need a HCQIS Access Roles and Profile (HARP) account to submit a MIPS
Promoting Interoperability Performance Category Hardship Exception application.
Once you sign in to QPP with your HARP credentials, select "Exceptions
Application" on the left-hand navigation and then select "Promoting
Interoperability Hardship." 

For more information on how to obtain a HARP account, refer to the Register for
a HARP Account document in the QPP Access User Guide (ZIP, 3MB).  

The MIPS Promoting Interoperability Hardship Exception application is available.
The application deadline is 8 p.m. ET on December 31, 2024.


PERFORMANCE YEAR 2024 PROMOTING INTEROPERABILITY HARDSHIP EXCEPTION APPLICATION
IS AVAILABLE

Apply


HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M APPROVED? 

You'll be notified by email if your request was approved or denied. You'll also
be able to check the status of your application by signing in to QPP. If
approved, this approval will also be added to your eligibility profile in
the QPP Participation Status Tool on a rolling basis. If your application is
approved at the end of the performance year, it may not appear in the QPP
Participation Status Tool until the submission window opens in 2025.


WHAT HAPPENS IF MY APPLICATION IS APPROVED?

If your application is approved, you don't have to report for the MIPS Promoting
Interoperability performance category, and the category will be reweighted to 0%
of your final score.

The Promoting Interoperability performance category weight will be redistributed
to another performance category (or categories) unless you choose to submit
data. If you submit data, the hardship will be cancelled, and your data will be
scored.


WHAT IF I'M A MIPS APM PARTICIPANT?

MIPS eligible clinicians and groups with MIPS eligible clinicians participating
in a MIPS APM can apply for hardship exceptions and qualify for automatic
reweighting just like other MIPS eligible clinicians. If you’re participating in
MIPS at the APM Entity level (either reporting traditional MIPS, MVPs, or the
APP), you'll receive the APM Entity’s score, but will be excluded from the
calculation when we create an average Promoting Interoperability score for the
APM Entity. 


CAN I STILL SUBMIT DATA?

Yes. Whether you qualify for automatic reweighting or have an approved exception
application, you can still choose to report. Submitted data will override your
approved exception application and, we’ll score your data, and the Promoting
Interoperability performance category will count towards your MIPS final score.
(Note: You'll be scored in this performance category if you attest to any data
during the submission period, such as selecting performance period dates or
answering measure questions.)


WHEN IS THE PROMOTING INTEROPERABILITY PERFORMANCE CATEGORY AUTOMATICALLY
REWEIGHTED?

Updated

We automatically reweight the Promoting Interoperability performance category
for certain clinicians, groups, virtual groups and APM Entities based on
clinician type and special status. If this performance category is reweighted,
you don’t need to collect or submit Promoting Interoperability data. 
 

 * (Updated for 2024) Clinician type: clinical social workers
 * Special status: ambulatory surgical center (ASC)-based, hospital-based,
   non-patient-facing, and small practice 
   Note: small practice is the only special status available to APM Entities

If you’re reporting as a group or virtual group, all MIPS eligible clinicians in
the group or virtual group must qualify for reweighting for the group to be
reweighted, unless the group or virtual group has a special status that
qualifies them for automatic reweighting.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Help shape the future of QPP. Participate in a user feedback session. Sign up
now

9.45.8


RESOURCES

 * Resource Library
 * Help and Support
 * Support for Small Practices
 * Developer Tools
 * Glossary


CONTACT CMS

Phone:

Monday - Friday 8 a.m - 8 p.m ET

Contact CMS PhoneMonday - Friday 8 a.m - 8 p.m ET1-866-288-8292 (TRS: 711)TRS
Communications Assistant Information When dialing 711, you will automatically be
connected to a TRS Communications Assistant who will relay your conversation to
the help desk agent with strict confidentiality.


Email:

QPP@cms.hhs.gov

QPP Service Center:


CREATE OR TRACK A QPP SERVICE CENTER TICKET


STAY CONNECTED




SIGN UP FOR THE QPP LISTSERV

Email addressSubscribe

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 * CMS Privacy Notice
 * 
 * Accessibility
 * 
 * Download Adobe Reader

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A federal government website managed and paid for by the U.S Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services. 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore MD 21244


Give feedback