The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has extended the extreme and uncontrollable circumstances application deadline for the 2022 performance year. Physicians and physician groups affected by the COVID-19 pandemic now have until March 3, 2023, to apply for a 2022 Medicare hardship exception.

While COVID-19 flexibilities are still in place due to the public health emergency, the exceptions will not be automatically applied as they have been the past two years.

Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligible clinicians, groups, and virtual groups may apply to reweight any or all MIPS performance categories if they’ve been affected by extreme and uncontrollable circumstances, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Extreme and uncontrollable circumstances are defined as rare events entirely outside of your control and the control of the facility in which you practice.

If you believe you’ve been affected by an extreme and uncontrollable circumstance (such as the public health emergency triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic), you can apply whether reporting  traditional MIPS or the  APM Performance Pathway (APP).  MIPS exception application for performance year 2022 (payment year 2024) citing COVID-19 as the triggering event will be accepted through 5 p.m. Pacific Time on March 3, 2023.

Learn more in the 2022 MIPS Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Application Guide (PDF).