The American Medical Association is urging CMS to reopen a payment program exception before a March 31 deadline as a nationwide intravenous fluid shortage pummels the healthcare industry.
CMS has previously offered an extreme and uncontrollable circumstances exception for the merit-based incentive payment system regarding disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Change Healthcare cyberattack. In a March 12 letter, the AMA asked the agency to offer this exception again for 2024.
In late September, flooding from Hurricane Helene halted operations at a Baxter plant that manufactured about 60% of the nation’s intravenous fluids. Although Baxter has fully restored production levels, the AMA said physicians still need to ration IV fluid supply and use alternatives, which could lead to MIPS penalties.
“Because contingencies due to the nationwide IV shortage remain in effect, physicians’ performance in MIPS, particularly on certain MIPS quality and cost measures, may be impacted due to circumstances outside of their control,” the AMA’s letter said. “Physicians should not be forced to choose between preserving their performance in MIPS or appropriately rationing critical medical supplies during the current emergency situation.”
