Quality Payment Program Small Practices Newsletter: June 2026
Quality Payment Program Small Practices Newsletter: June 2026
The Quality Payment Program (QPP) Small Practices Newsletter is a monthly resource that provides small practices (15 or fewer clinicians) with program updates, upcoming QPP milestones, and resources to support their continued participation and success in QPP. We send this newsletter on the second Tuesday of each month.
Please share this newsletter with your fellow clinicians and practice staff and encourage them to sign up to receive this monthly resource.
At-a-Glance: Required and Recommended Activities for Successful Participation in QPP
Each month, we share required and recommended activities for small practices to support their successful participation in QPP. The activities follow a rolling quarter approach, letting you see activities for the previous month, the current month, and the following month.
Registration is open throughJune30,2026, at 8p.m.ETfor theCAHPS for MIPS Surveyfor the 2026 performance year.
Groups, virtual groups, subgroups, and APM Entities with 2 or more clinicians (including at least 1 MIPS eligible clinician) can register to administer the CAHPS for MIPS Survey for traditional MIPS, APM Performance Pathway (APP), orMVPreporting.
These ACOsare required toreport through theAPPsothey’reautomatically registered for the CAHPS for MIPS Survey, which is required under the APP.
TheseACOsdon’tneed to register but will still need to hire a CMS-approved vendor to administer the CAHPS for MIPS Survey.
Who must register?
GroupsandAPM Entities (other than Shared Savings Program ACOs) that choose to report through the APP must register because theCAHPS for MIPS Survey is a required measure under the APP
Who canregister?
Groups, virtual groups, and APM Entities that intend to administer the CAHPS for MIPS Survey as 1 of their 6 quality measures for reporting traditional MIPS
Groups, subgroups, and APM Entities that are registered to report the followingMVPsand that intend to administer the CAHPS for MIPS Survey as 1 of their 4 quality measures
How to Register
Groups, virtual groups, and APM Entities will register on the QPP website .You’llneed to have the Security Official roleto registeryour organization. Please refer to the QPP Access User Guide (ZIP, 5MB)for information about obtaining a Security Official role for your organization.
The MVPs registration window is open for the 2026performance year. Individuals, groups, subgroups, and Alternative Payment Model (APM) Entities that want to report an MVP can register until November 30,2026.
Note: If the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) for MIPS Survey is an available measure in your selected MVP and you want to administer it as 1 of your 4 required measures, you‘ll need to complete both your MVP registration and a separate CAHPS for MIPS Survey registration byJune30,2026, at 8p.m.ET.
Visit theExplore MVPspageto learn more about theavailable MVPsfor the 2026performance period.
How to Register
Individuals, groups, subgroups, and APM Entities will register on the QPP website.You’llneed to have the Security Official roleto registeryour organization. Please refer to theQPP Access User Guide (ZIP, 5MB)for information about obtaining a Security Official role for your organization.
The 2026 Quality Payment Program (QPP) Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances (EUC) Exception application is available now through December31,2026, at 8p.m.ET. This application allows users toindicatethe reasonthey’reunable to report data for one or more MIPS performance categories.
Individual clinicians, groups, and virtual groups (or a third-party representative) can submit a MIPS EUC Exception application for one or more MIPS performance categories (quality, cost, improvement activities, and Promoting Interoperability) due toextreme and uncontrollable circumstances, defined as rare events entirely outside of your control and the control of the facility in which you practice.
How to Apply
Sign in to the QPP website with your Health Care Quality Information System (HCQIS) Access Roles and Profile (HARP) account.
Choose “Exceptions Application” from the left-hand navigation.
Click “Add New QPP Exception” on the right side of the screen.
Choose “Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Exception.”
The Quality Innovation Network–Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) leads a nationwide initiative to provide expert guidance and resources that advance meaningful quality improvement in healthcare.
QIN-QIOs, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), offer specialized support to healthcare providers across the country.
For physician practices, our subject matter experts deliver complimentary services that promote effective use of health information technology, boost patient engagement in preventive services and screenings, support identification of behavioral health risks, and help optimize treatment strategies. Local QINQIO consultants also provide tailored technical assistance to Medicare providers, supporting coordination, addressing quality gaps, and strengthening overall improvement efforts.
QINQIO program support also complements quality initiatives like the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). QIN-QIO’s free expert guidance helps providers understand program requirements, improve performance scores, and reduce reporting burdens—support that can help practices avoid penalties and maximize incentive opportunities.
For Critical Access Hospitals, QIN-QIO subject matter experts deliver no-cost services to strengthen performance, maintain survey readiness and compliance, and drive improvement in quality measures and CMS Star Ratings. Local consultants also provide direct, individualized technical assistance to Medicare providers, helping you coordinate, complement, and close gaps in your quality improvement efforts.
CMS recognizes the unique demands that small facilities face, where close-knit teams balance many priorities while advancing quality improvement. This opportunity supports ongoing care efforts and contributes to the future of healthcare quality. CMS encourages practices and hospitals to consult the table below to contact their QIN-QIO provider.
