The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) originally released performance feedback for the 2020 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) in August. CMS identified two issues that affected overall MIPS performance scores when the agency received numerous targeted review requests from physicians. As a result, the agency announced on Sept. 27 that it revised final scores for 2020 MIPS participants.
The first issue related to the complex patient bonus for Medicare Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). CMS concluded that this bonus was not being applied as intended and revised scores to award it to applicable participants.
CMS also identified and corrected an error that caused patient-reported outcome measures to not be recognized as outcome measures. Most physicians affected by this issue will see a small increase in their quality score, although some may see a decrease.
While most 2020 MIPS scores likely have not been strongly affected by these changes, the American College of Radiology® (ACR®) recommends members review their scores in the CMS Quality Payment Program portal.
Because of this scoring revision, CMS has extended the deadline to submit a targeted review of 2020 MIPS scores until Nov. 29, 8pm ET. For more information, please review the 2020 Targeted Review User Guide.
CMS also announced it will allow users to request performance category reweighting for COVID-19-related Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances (EUC) via the 2020 targeted review form. Reweighting requests also are due by Nov. 29, 8pm ET. To find out more, visit the 2020 Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances: Reweighting Requests Extension Guide.
If you have questions, contact Zach Smith, Senior Quality Programs Specialist, at zsmith@acr.org.