New QIES Upgrade for Home Health Assessment Data
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (QIES), which providers and vendors use to submit assessment data, is being upgraded to become more reliable, scalable, secure, and accessible. Onboarding is happening now for all home health agencies (HHAs), and functionality will begin in January 2020. The enhanced system is referred to as the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES). To learn more, click here.
According to CMS, the rollout of iQIES will not require providers or vendors to change current processes related to submission of data. However, iQIES will require a new user management system because virtual private network (VPN) and CMSNet are no longer needed to access this system. All users will have to create an account and establish credentials in the Health Care Quality Information System (HCQIS) Access, Roles and Profile system (HARP). HARP is a secure identity management portal provided by CMS.
Through HARP, the level of access for iQIES will be similar to the roles that exist in QIES, but with the addition of a Provider Security Official (PSO). The individual designated as the PSO will be responsible for approving or rejecting iQIES user access requests for their respective organizations, including vendors. For your organization to receive access to iQIES, you must first identify a PSO. For instructions on obtaining access to iQIES, descriptions of the iQIES roles applicable to HHAs, and important iQIES information, click here.
Please tune in to CMS' Nov. 6th Open Door Forum (ODF) for Home Health, Hospice & Durable Medical Equipment (DME), as this initiative is on the agenda.
Contact: Meg Carr Everett, meverett@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8871