08/18/2026

Quality Payment Program (QPP)

2026 APM Incentive Payments Now Disbursed - Action May Be Required

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has disbursed 2026 Advanced Alternative Payment Model (APM) Incentive Payments to eligible clinicians based on Qualifying APM Participant (QAP) Performance Period 2024. 

To view your payment details, log in to the QPP website using your HARP credentials. Payment information is available at both the 10-digit NPI and organization levels. 

Do You Need to Act? 

If you have not received your payment: 

• Check the 2026 QP Notice for APM Incentive Payment to see if your name is listed. 
• If listed, you must complete and submit your Medicare billing information by October 13, 2026. 
• Failure to verify by this deadline will result in no payment being issued. 

Reminder to Submit Comments on the CY 2027 PFS Proposed Rule Policy Changes for Quality Payment Program by 9/14/2026

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued its Calendar Year (CY) 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Proposed Rule, which includes proposed policies for the Quality Payment Program (QPP). 

The CY 2027 PFS Proposed Rule includes proposals for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs), as well as several Requests for Information (RFIs). 

Specifically, we’re proposing policies that: 

• Move towards the full implementation of MIPS Value Pathways (MVPs). 
• Focus on prevention and wellness in patient care. 
• Reduce administrative burden. 
• Promote more meaningful participation that drives quality and value.  

2027 Policy Proposal Highlights 

Key QPP policies that we are proposing in the CY 2027 Medicare PFS Proposed Rule include: 

• Sunsetting the traditional MIPS reporting option after the 2028 performance year.
• Introducing 3 new MVPs for the 2027 performance year that are related to diabetic disease, hypertension, and hospitalists, and modifying all 27 previously finalized MVPs. 
• Replacing the outcome/high priority measure requirement for the quality category with a new MIPS core measure requirement. 
• Revising the MIPS Promoting Interoperability performance category reporting requirements in the CY 2026, 2027, and 2028 reporting periods. 
• Modifying the APM Performance Pathway Plus (APP Plus) quality measurement set and introducing a new collection type: Medicare Electronic Clinical Quality Measures for Accountable Care Organizations Participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (Medicare eCQMs). 
• Applying Qualifying APM Participant (QP) and Partial QP determinations at the Taxpayer Identification Number/National Provider Identifier (TIN/NPI) level instead of the NPI level. 

Overview of RFIs 

We are also seeking feedback on RFIs about the following topics: 

• The future transition to FHIR-based digital quality reporting for QPP including the overall transition timeline, key milestones, and implementation considerations.  
• Whether we should consider MVP score normalization within an MVP to ensure scoring fairness across MVPs.  
• Improvements and alternative options to the current star rating assignment methodology for quality measure scores collected under the administrative claims collection type.    

How Do I Comment on the CY 2027 Proposed Rule? 

The proposed rule includes directions for submitting comments within the 60-day comment period. Comments must be submitted by Monday, September 14, 2026. 

When commenting, refer to file code: CMS-1848-P 

We don’t accept FAX transmissions. 

Use 1 of the 3 following ways to officially submit your comments: 

• Electronically: regulations.gov
• 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. 
• 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.  

Additional Resources 

Learn more about QPP proposals in the following resources: 

• 2027 Quality Payment Program Proposed Rule Fact Sheet and Policy Comparison Table (PDF)– This resource provides an overview of QPP proposals and RFIs included in the CY 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Proposed Rule, and a comparison table contrasting existing policies with proposals. 
• Proposed Timeline: Transitioning from Traditional MIPS to MVPs (PDF)– This graphic displays the timeline for sunsetting traditional MIPS as proposed in in the CY 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Proposed Rule. 
• Medicare Shared Savings Program Proposals Fact Sheet – This resource reviews information on the proposals specific to participation in the Shared Savings Program 
• 2027 Proposed and Modified MVPs Guide (PDF)– This resource reviews details of the newly proposed MVPs and proposed changes to existing MVPs. You may also review proposals for new and updated MVPs by visiting the Explore MVPs page of the QPP website. 

2026 MIPS Value Pathway (MVP) Registration Open

The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Value Pathways (MVPs) registration window is open for the 2026 performance year. Individuals, groups, subgroups, and Alternative Payment Model (APM) Entities that wish to report an MVP can register until November 30, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET. 

To register, you’ll sign in to the QPP website with your HCQIS Access and Roles Profile (HARP) account. 

You must have a HARP account and a QPP Security Official role to complete the MVP Registration. 

• For more information on HARP accounts, please refer to the Register for a HARP Account document in the QPP Access User Guide (ZIP, 5MB). 
• For more information on obtaining the QPP Security Official role, review the Connect to an Organization document in the QPP Access User Guide (ZIP, 5MB).

Prepare for MVP Registration 

Before you register, you’ll need to have the following items identified: 

• The MVP you plan to report 
• Whether you plan to administer the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) for MIPS Survey, if it’s a quality measure option in your selected MVP 
• Whether you want to be evaluated on an outcomes-based administrative claims quality measure, if it’s a quality measure option in your selected MVP 
• The participation option you plan to use individual, group, subgroup, or APM Entity 

Additional Information for Group Registration 

Starting in 2026, to register for MVP reporting as a group, your practice will need to attest to their specialty composition (whether you’re a single specialty group or multispecialty small practice) during the MVP registration process. We won't make this determination for you. All other groups will need to participate as subgroups or as individuals (if eligible) to report an MVP.  

A single specialty group means a group that consists of clinicians in one specialty type, or clinicians in more than one specialty type with a single clinical focus of care. For example, a group consisting of internists, cardiologists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants that are focused on providing cardiovascular care could attest to being a single specialty group and register to report an MVP as a group. 

How to Register

Individuals, groups, subgroups and APM Entities will register on the QPP website. You'll need to have the Security Official role to register your organization. Please refer to the QPP Access User Guide (ZIP, 5MB) for information about obtaining a Security Official role for your organization. To register: Sign in to QPP 

• Click Register or edit an MVP registration from the landing page 
• Click your MVP reporting option 

Note: If the CAHPS for MIPS Survey is included in your chosen MVP and you plan to use it as one of your four required measures, you must complete both your MVP registration and a separate CAHPS for MIPS Survey registration by June 30, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET. Visit the QPP website for details on registering for the CAHPS for MIPS Survey. 

Additional Resources

• 2026 MVP Registration Guide (PDF, 2MB)
• 2026 MVPs Implementation Guide (PDF, 3MB)
• 2026 Explore MVPs