Alternative Payment Models Performance Pathway

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented the APM Performance Pathway (APP) as a MIPS reporting and scoring pathway for MIPS-eligible clinicians who are also participants in MIPS APMs. The APP was designed to decrease burden, create new scoring opportunities for MIPS APM participants and encourage participation in APMs. Performance in the APP is measured based on a clinician's performance in three areas: Quality, Improvement Activities, and Promoting Interoperability.

If you participate in a MIPS APM, but not at a volume to achieve QP status, you still must participate in MIPS to avoid a penalty. Clinicians in MIPS APMs may participate in the APP or traditional MIPS at the individual, group, virtual group or APM Entity level in 2022. However, reporting requirements and scoring accommodations will depend on which track is selected. Those opting to participate through the APP will be required to report on a specific APP measure set but will automatically get full credit for Improvement Activities in 2022 and their Cost category will be reweighted to 0 percent. Clinicians who take part in a Shared Savings Program ACO must report through the APP but may report on the web interface set in place of certain APP measures until 2024.

More information on the APP can be found on CMS' APM Performance Pathway websites.