The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released several important updates affecting Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) participants, Alternative Payment Model (APM) entities, and healthcare organizations preparing for the 2026 performance year.
2026 MVP Registration Is Now Open
Organizations planning to participate in a Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Value Pathway (MVP) can now register through November 30, 2026.
Before registering, participants should identify:
- The MVP they intend to report.
- Whether they will use the CAHPS for MIPS Survey, if available within their selected MVP.
- Whether they will elect available outcomes-based administrative claims measures.
- Their reporting option, including individual, group, subgroup, or APM Entity participation.
CMS also introduced a new requirement for group reporting in 2026. Practices registering as a group must now attest to their specialty composition, including whether they qualify as a single-specialty group or a multispecialty small practice.
CAHPS for MIPS Survey Registration Open Through June 30
Registration is also open for the 2026 Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) for MIPS Survey.
The survey remains an important reporting component for certain traditional MIPS participants, MVP participants, and organizations reporting through the APM Performance Pathway (APP) or APP Plus. Organizations that plan to use the survey should review eligibility requirements and registration deadlines carefully, as some reporting pathways require participation while others offer it as an option.
Healthcare organizations should note that registration closes June 30, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET.
2024 QPP Participation and Performance Results Released
CMS has published final Quality Payment Program participation and performance data for the 2024 performance year.
The newly released data provides insight into:
- MIPS participation rates and payment adjustments.
- Average and median MIPS performance scores.
- Advanced APM participation statistics.
- Clinician-level performance information available through the Public Use File (PUF).
Organizations may find these resources useful for benchmarking performance, evaluating reporting strategies, and identifying opportunities for future improvement.
Automatic MIPS Relief for Certain Disaster-Affected Areas
CMS announced that clinicians affected by the Hawaii Kona Low Weather Systems and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Super Typhoon Sinlaku will automatically qualify for the MIPS Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances (EUC) policy for the 2026 performance year.
Eligible clinicians in designated disaster areas will receive automatic reweighting of all four MIPS performance categories unless they choose to submit sufficient performance data for scoring. Groups and APM entities remain subject to separate exception application processes.
Updated Qualified Registry and QCDR Information Available
CMS has also updated the 2026 Qualified Clinical Data Registry (QCDR) and Qualified Registry postings to reflect newly resolved remedial actions, terminations, and other program changes affecting approved third-party intermediaries.
Organizations utilizing registries for MIPS reporting should review the updated postings to confirm the status of their selected reporting vendors and stay informed about any program changes that could affect reporting activities.
With multiple registration deadlines approaching and new performance data available, now is an ideal time for organizations to review their MIPS reporting strategy, confirm registration requirements, and ensure they have the appropriate access and administrative roles in place. Staying informed about these updates can help practices prepare for successful participation in the 2026 Quality Payment Program reporting year.