AMA Alert: 2024 Payment Penalty/MIPS Hardship

Last Updated: Sep 28, 2023

Due to a major program change for the QPP Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) for the 2022 performance period, which affects 2024 payments, physicians are facing penalties for possibly the first time since the program started.  The change was the move from an automatic to an application-based hardship exception due to COVID-19 and weighting the cost performance category at 30%. 

The AMA is asking that those physicians who participate in MIPS access your 2022 MIPS feedback reports as soon as possible.  If there are errors, the deadline to submit an appeal is 8 pm on October 9, 2023.  Here is more detail from the AMA:

On Aug. 10, CMS made available 2022 MIPS performance feedback, which determines whether physicians will receive a positive, neutral or negative payment adjustment on Medicare services furnished in 2024. The AMA has heard alarming reports of physicians facing MIPS penalties in 2024 for the first time since the program started. We strongly encourage you to view this information as soon as possible for two reasons:

1. If there are any errors, you should consider submitting an appeal, also called a targeted review. For more information about how to request a targeted review, please refer to the 2022 Targeted Review User Guide (PDF). The deadline to submit a targeted review is 8 pm ET Oct. 9, 2023.
2. You can help us advocate against Medicare physician payment cuts in 2024 by sharing this information. If you feel comfortable, you can share de-identified score and corresponding payment adjustment information. This will inform our understanding of the impact of MIPS on physician payment in 2024 and can help us in our conversations with the administration and Congress about ensuring physician payment supports high-quality care to Medicare patients. Please share your information by emailing the AMA Advocacy staff at ama.advocacy@ama-assn.org.

Physicians can view their 2022 MIPS Performance Feedback information on the Quality Payment Program (QPP) website website using their HCQIS Access Role and Profile (HARP) credentials. The CMS Payment Adjustment User Guide (PDF) walks through the process of accessing and downloading performance feedback.