As we move into the final quarter of 2021, here are several key dates and deadlines for the 2020, 2021, and 2022 performance years of the MIPS program that eligible providers should keep in mind.
October 2021
- On October 1, 2021, the 2022 virtual group election period opened.
Solo practitioners and groups with 10 or fewer clinicians (including at least one MIPS eligible clinician) who want to participate in MIPS as a virtual group for the 2022 performance year can now submit their election to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
- October 3, 2021 was the last day providers could begin data collection for a continuous 90-day performance period for the Improvement Activities and Promoting Interoperability performance categories for the 2021 reporting year.
Most, but not all, improvement activities have a continuous 90-day performance period, but several improvement activities require completion of modules where there’s a year-long or alternate performance period. The performance period is 90 days unless otherwise stated in the activity description.
November 2021
- November 29, 2021, is the deadline for submitting performance category reweighting requests and targeted reviews for performance year 2020 through the Targeted Review form.
As announced on September 27, 2021, CMS released updates to 2020 MIPS final scores and performance feedback, and 2022 MIPS payment adjustments. Because of that, CMS extended the deadline for requesting targeted reviews for performance year 2020 from October 1, 2021, to November 29, 2021.
CMS also reopened applications for performance category reweighting under the extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policies for performance year 2020. Previously, the deadline was March 31, 2021. Clinicians, groups and APM Entities now have until November 29, 2021, to request 2020 performance category reweighting through the Targeted Review form.
December 2021
- Sometime in December, providers can check their final eligibility status for the MIPS 2021 performance year. Learn more about how MIPS eligibility is determined at the QPP website.
The Qualifying Participant Determinations and MIPS APM Participation Information also will be available on the Quality Payment Program Participation Status Tool.
- On December 31, 2021, the 2021 MIPS performance year ends.
- Also on December 31, 2021, applications will close for the Promoting Interoperability Hardship Exception and Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances (EUC) for performance year 2021.
Clinicians, groups, and virtual groups who believe they’re eligible for these exceptions may apply, and if approved, will qualify for a re-weighting of one or more MIPS performance categories. Alternative Payment Model (APM) Entities can also request reweighting of all performance categories through the EUC application.
CMS will notify applicants via email whether their requests are approved or denied. If approved, the exception will also be added to the QPP Participation Status Tool but may not appear in the tool until the data submission period begins in 2022.
- As well, the 2022 virtual group election period closes on December 31, 2021.
January 2022
- On January 1, 2022, the 2022 MIPS performance year begins.
- Payment adjustments based on performance year 2020 will go into effect on January 1, 2022.
- On January 3, 2022, the 2021 MIPS performance year data submission period begins.
March 2022
- On March 31, 2022, the 2021 MIPS performance year data submission period closes.
More Information
For more information about upcoming MIPS deadlines, visit the Timeline and Important Deadlines page of the Quality Payment Program website.
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