Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Automatic Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances (EUC) Policy Applied to MIPS Eligible Clinicians Following Hurricanes Helene and Francine
- October 25, 2024
- Clinical Practice Updates, News
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Becerra recently
released a letter to healthcare leaders and stakeholders on the impacts of Hurricane Helene,
which can be found on the HHS website. In response to Hurricanes Helene and Francine, the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has determined that the MIPS automatic
EUC policy will apply to MIPS eligible clinicians in the following designated affected counties
of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Louisiana:
o HHS Public Health Emergency (PHE) declaration
o Hurricane Helene: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and
Tennessee
o Hurricane Francine: Louisiana
o Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster declaration
o Hurricane Helene: DR-4828-FL, DR-4830-GA, DR-4827-NC, DR-4829-SC, and DR-
4832-TN
o Hurricane Francine: FEMA-4817-DR
MIPS eligible clinicians in these areas will be automatically identified and have all 4
performance categories reweighted to 0% during the data submission period for the 2024
performance period (January 2 to March 31, 2025). This will result in a score equal to the
performance threshold, and they’ll receive a neutral payment adjustment for the 2026 MIPS
payment year. However, if MIPS eligible clinicians in these areas submit data on 2 or more
performance categories, they’ll be scored on those performance categories and receive a 2026
MIPS payment adjustment based on their 2024 MIPS final score.