Quality Payment Program Small Practices Newsletter: August 2026
Quality Payment Program Small Practices Newsletter: August 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.
The proposed rule includes proposals for MIPS and Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs), and includes several Requests for Information (RFIs).
Key QPP proposals that are applicable to small practices include:
Sunsetting the traditional MIPS reporting option after the 2028 performance year.
Introducing 3 new MIPS Value Pathways (MVPs) for the 2027 performance year related to diabetic disease, hypertension, and hospitalists, and modifying all 27 previously finalized MVPs.
Learn more about the QPP proposals by reviewing the following resources:
MVP Transition Toolkit for Small Practices (ZIP, 1MB) – This new resource provides guidance for small practices participating in MIPS as they transition from traditional MIPS to MVP reporting. It includes a tool to help identify applicable MVPs based on the measures you currently report.
Regular mail –Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-1848-P, P.O. Box 8016, Baltimore, MD 21244-8016. Please allow sufficient time for mailed comments to be received prior to the end of the comment period.
Express or overnight mail – Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-1848-P, Mail Stop C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
Please note:Faxtransmissions won’t be accepted.
When commenting, refer to file code: CMS-1848-P.
The 60-day comment period for the CY 2027PFS Proposed Rule is open until September 14, 2026.
On July 13, 2026 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated its QPP Participation Status Tool based on the first snapshot of Alternative Payment Model (APM) data. The first snapshot includes data from Medicare Part B claims with dates of service between January 1, 2026, and March 31, 2026.
CMS anticipates publishing the MIPS final scores for the 2025 performance year by late September. At that time, the Targeted Review period will open, allowing you to request a review if needed. MIPS payment adjustments for the 2027 payment year will be released approximately one month after the release of final scores. The Targeted Review period will close 30 days after the release of MIPS payment adjustments. You can continue to access your measure and activity-level scores for the data reported during the submission period. Performance period benchmarks are part of final scoring and will only become available once final scores are released. Once published, we’ll announce the release of 2025 final scores through the QPP listserv.
In the meantime, we encourage you to confirm your MIPS eligibility and review the following scoring resources so that you’re prepared to understand your scores when they’re released.
As CMS continues to advance healthcare quality, the Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organizations (QIN-QIOs) are committed to supporting outpatient clinical practices through no cost and customized technical assistance. This article highlights how the QIN-QIO program has made a significant positive impact on several small practices across the nation.
Supporting Small Practices: A Closer Look
Missouri
A small practice in Columbia, Missouri, recently sought our technical assistance to navigate the Quality Payment Program (QPP) Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Our team provided comprehensive support, including:
Guidance on Running QPP MIPS Dashboard Reports: We helped the practice set up the export from their electronic health record to include the required data for small practice submission requirements.
Identifying High-Performing Quality Measures: We reviewed the MIPS dashboard and identified six quality measures that demonstrated the highest level of performance.
QRDA III File Upload Assistance: Our team assisted with uploading the QRDA III file and reviewed the initial feedback report. When the initial upload was unsuccessful, we helped troubleshoot the issue, validated the file format, and ensured all required sections were included. This approach led to a successful data submission, and the practice is now well-prepared for the next annual reporting period.
Colorado
For a small practice in Denver, Colorado, our QIN-QIO team provided similar technical assistance. Key support included:
Running QPP MIPS Dashboard Reports: We guided the practice on setting up the export to meet small practice submission requirements.
QRDA III File Upload Assistance: Despite an initial unsuccessful upload, our team collaborated with the QPP helpdesk to identify the issue. We helped export a new file that excluded MVP measures the provider was ineligible to report, resulting in a successful data submission. The practice is now equipped with the knowledge to navigate future reporting periods effectively.
Kansas
A small rural practice affiliated with a hospital in Kiowa, Kansas, received general MIPS overview support from our QIN-QIO team. Our assistance included:
Navigating the QPP Website: We provided a comprehensive MIPS overview and guidance on how to navigate the QPP website.
Access to QPP MIPS Documentation: We shared links to requested QPP MIPS documentation, helping the practice check clinician eligibility and understand performance year requirements per category.
As a result, this practice now has the information needed to make an informed decision on whether to voluntarily report MIPS data, empowering them to take the next steps confidently.
Join Us
The QIN-QIO program is dedicated to enhancing healthcare quality through tailored technical assistance. By supporting small practices, QIN-QIOs are helping clinicians improve patient care and navigate complex reporting requirements with confidence. Stay tuned for more success stories and the impactful work QIN-QIOs are doing across the nation.
If you or your practice needs assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local QIN-QIO for support from the table below. Together, partnering with QIN-QIO can achieve better health outcomes for all. More information can be found at CMS Quality Improvement Programs.
