Reminder: Upcoming Important MIPS Dates and Deadlines

December 24, 2020
Policy Snapshot
Merit-Based Incentive Program Payment System (MIPS), Quality Payment Program (QPP), Practice Management, Practitioners

CMS would like to remind clinicians of important upcoming Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) dates and deadlines:

  • December 31 – 2020 Promoting Interoperability Hardship Exception Application period closes. Clinicians, groups, and virtual groups that believe they are eligible for this exception may apply, and if approved, will qualify for a re-weighting of the MIPS Promoting Interoperability performance category. The 2020 Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Application period also closes for all reasons not related to COVID-19. 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 (note: may not appear in the tool until the submission window opens in 2021).
  • December 31 – 2021 virtual group election period closes. Solo practitioners and groups with 10 or fewer clinicians (including at least one MIPS-eligible clinician) that want to participate in MIPS as a virtual group for the 2021 performance year must submit their election to CMS.
  • January 4, 2021 – 2020 MIPS performance year data submission window opens.
  • February 1, 2021 – 2020 Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Application period closes for COVID-19 only. Clinicians, groups, and virtual groups that believe they are eligible for this exception may apply, and if approved, will qualify for a re-weighting of one or more MIPS performance categories. CMS will notify applicants via email whether their requests are approved or denied. If approved, the exception will be added to the QPP Participation Status Tool. New: CMS has finalized that for the 2020 performance year, Alternative Payment Model (APM) Entities may submit Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances applications as a result of COVID-19. For more information about the impact of COVID-19 on Quality Payment Program participation, see the Quality Payment Program COVID-19 Response webpage.
  • March 1, 2021 – Deadline for CMS to receive 2020 claims for the quality performance category. Claims must be received by CMS within 60 days of the end of the performance period. Deadline dates vary to submit claims to the MACs. Check with the MACs for more specific instructions.                                                                           
  • March 31, 2021 – 2020 MIPS performance year data submission window closes.

For more information:

To learn more, visit the QPP website and access the following resources:

Questions? Contact the Quality Payment Program at 1-866-288-8292 or by e-mail at: QPP@cms.hhs.gov. To receive assistance more quickly, please consider calling during non-peak hours—before 10:00 AM and after 2:00 PM ET. Customers who are hearing impaired can dial 711 to be connected to a TRS communications assistant.