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In addition to proposed code and payment provisions, the 2026 MPFS proposed rule also includes changes to the Quality Payment Program and its component participation methods—the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs). The rule includes adding a proposed interventional radiology MIPS Value Pathway (MVP), which would create a new reporting framework for IR as part of MIPS.

The IR MVP is a specialty-specific pathway proposed for performance year 2026 meant to streamline quality reporting by focusing on clinically relevant measures for IRs. The current proposed IR MVP includes 11 quality measures, 10 improvement activity measures, and 3 cost measures for IRs to select from. Of these available measures, only three are broadly applicable across the specialty and the rest primarily apply to IRs who subspecialize in areas such as stroke, dialysis access, venous services and women’s health.

SIR previously sent a letter during the public comment period in January 2025 opposing this proposal and SIR remains concerned that the MVP does not adequately reflect the diversity and highly subspecialized nature of IR. SIR believes the measure set is too narrow, making it difficult for many IRs to participate meaningfully without undue burden.

The exclusion of broadly applicable quality measures and the reliance on cost measures that do not fairly represent IR contributions further limit the feasibility of this MVP. SIR will provide CMS feedback through the comment process to ensure the MVP evolves into a more inclusive and practical framework that truly supports quality improvement and value-based care across the full spectrum of IR practice.

Did you know SIR’s Quality and Performance Improvement Division stewards 4 MIPS measures? As a member of SIR, you benefit from the work that SIR staff and member-volunteers in the Quality and Performance Improvement Division undertake with CMS’s Quality Payment Program to help ensure the benchmarks you are measured against are accurate and relevant to your practice. In collaboration with CMS, SIR develops, maintains and advocates for the inclusion of quality measures so that IR practices are assessed fairly and meaningfully. Through this stewardship, IR physicians are measured using metrics that reflect the quality of care they deliver, minimize unnecessary administrative burden, and promote ongoing improvement in clinical outcomes.