The 2023 final MIPS performance-year scores have been released. The deadline to ask CMS for an informal review of scores is Oct. 11. Here are six things to know:
1. Oct. 11, is also the deadline for MIPS-eligible physicians and groups to apply for a hardship extension due to the Change Healthcare cyberattack earlier this year. The exemption allows physicians to request reevaluation of up to four MIPS performance categories due to disruptions from the cyberattack on their practice.
2. The hardship exemption will not override data submission. If a physician or group previously submitted data in a category, CMS will still score within that category.
3. Physician practices should consider submitting an application for the cost-performance category at a minimum, according to a Sept. 25 release from the American Medical Association, as there is no data-submission requirement for the cost measures that CMS scores using claims data.
4. Physicians can submit a targeted review for:
- Data submitted under the wrong taxpayer-identification number or National Provider Identifier.
- The qualifying APM participant status a physician may have, which should not receive MIPS payment adjustment.
- Performance categories not being automatically reweighted, even if one qualifies for reweighting because of extreme or uncontrollable circumstances.
5. To access MIPS final scores and request a targeted review, physicians can sign into the CMS quality payment program portal using HARP credentials. These credentials are the same from 2023 and "Targeted Review" is listed on the left-hand navigation. CMS requires physicians to provide documentation supporting the targeted-review request. A CMS representative will contact physicians about providing any specific documentation required.