December 17, 2025

MIPS 2026 Final Rule: What practices need to know

By ION

The MIPS Consulting team recently hosted a webinar providing an overview of the 2026 Final Rule. While many MIPS reporting requirements remain consistent, CMS finalized several changes that will shape how practices prepare and report in the upcoming performance year. Below is a summary of some of the most important changes presented during the webinar.

Promoting Interoperability: Finalized policy changes for 2026
The Promoting Interoperability category includes several targeted updates for 2026:

Security Risk Assessment (SRA): Updated attestation required. Practices must now attest that SRA management activities were conducted in accordance with the HIPAA Security Rule.
SAFER Guide: Updated edition required. Beginning in 2026, practices must use the updated 2025 edition of the High Priority Practices SAFER Guide. Reviewing the new guidance in advance will help streamline compliance ahead of the reporting year.
New opportunity for bonus points. CMS will award up to five bonus points under the Public Health and Clinical Data Exchange objective for practices that report 2026 MIPS data through a Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TECFA) participant. Practices may only earn a maximum of five points.

Improvement Activities: Minor updates, new options
CMS also finalized several updates within the Improvement Activities category, including:

Replacing the “Achieving Health Equity” subcategory with “Advancing Health and Wellness”
Adding three new activities
Modifying seven existing activities
Removing eight activities

Practices should regularly review 2026 Improvement Activities to ensure selected activities remain available and that all specifications are being met.

Measure suppression: Electronic case reporting
Due to the CDC’s temporary pause on onboarding new healthcare organizations for electronic case reporting, CMS has finalized a policy to suppress this measure for the 2025 performance period and beyond. You must still report a “Yes,” “No,” or “Excluded” response, but will automatically receive full credit regardless of how you answer.

Looking ahead
While MIPS reporting is a complex, time consuming process, Cencora has solutions to help you navigate these requirements. We offer hands-on support –maintaining the “Book of Evidence” for each “Eligible Clinician”, conducting SRA guidance, and partnering with you year-round to help your practice stay on track and focused on patient care.

Watch the full webinar below to learn more about how we can support your MIPS reporting – or reach out to our team at info@intrinsiq.com.