What you need to know: CMS is accepting 2023 MIPS exception applications through Oct. 11 due to the Change Healthcare cyberattack. However, 2023 reweighting requests must be submitted through the MIPS Targeted Review Form.

In response to the Change Healthcare cyberattack in late February, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is accepting 2023 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances (EUC) exception applications through October 11, 2024, to provide relief to impacted practices.

IMPORTANT: 2023 exceptions must be requested through the MIPS Targeted Review Form.

Due to technical limitations, CMS is unable to reopen the 2023 exception application form because the 2024 application is already open. Because of this, CMS is allowing 2023 reweighting requests under EUC exception policies to be submitted through the MIPS Targeted Review Form. You can access this form by signing in to qpp.cms.gov. Only reweighting requests citing the cyberattack will be approved.  

Please Note: The MIPS exception application form currently accessible when you sign in to qpp.cms.gov is for PY 2024 applications only. Do NOT use the exception application form to request reweighting for 2023. Please see the 2023 MIPS EUC Reweighting Requests Guide (PDF) for step-by-step instructions with screenshots.

Individual MIPS eligible clinicians, groups, virtual groups and Alternative Payment Model (APM) Entities participating in MIPS (including Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organizations) who were unable to submit data for the 2023 performance year due to the cyberattack can submit 2023 reweighting requests via the MIPS Targeted Review Form until 5 p.m. Pacific Time on October 11, 2024.

What If We’ve Already Submitted Some Data?

For those who have already submitted some data, CMS will not reweight any performance category for which they’ve received data. Additionally, any data submitted to CMS after applying for the EUC exception will override the application for those performance categories.

However, if three of the performance categories are reweighted to 0% and only one performance category can be scored (e.g., because the MIPS eligible clinician, group, or virtual group submitted data for that category), then you will earn a final score equal to the performance threshold and you will receive a neutral payment adjustment.