At Simple, we’ve worked hard to educate our clients about the upcoming switch from the legacy QIES Assessment Submission and Processing (ASAP) system to the new iQIES system. Along the way, there have been some shifts in CMS plans and guidance, and we’ve worked closely with CMS, and with our partners at Advion, to make sure Simple software is ready for this transition.

Below, we’ve summarized the three key steps you MUST take now to ensure you can continue to submit MDS data after the iQIES transition. (NOTE: Due to updated guidance from CMS, these steps differ from what we’ve previously communicated. Please ignore any prior communications we’ve sent about iQIES and follow these newly updated instructions.)

CMS has officially announced that iQIES will go live on Monday, April 17, 2023. To prepare for that transition, CMS will turn off the existing QIES Assessment Submission and Processing (ASAP) system for MDS submissions on Thursday, April 13 at 8:00pm ET.

Providers must submit all MDS files prior to 8:00pm ET on April 13 to QIES or wait until the new iQIES system comes online at 8:00am ET on April 17. Providers are expected to consider all requirements when deciding when to submit MDS files during this transition, including submission timeliness, claims processing, and care planning requirements.

Every provider must identify a Provider Security Official (PSO) for each facility. All future CMS connectivity depends on this. The PSO is the person responsible for approving or rejecting iQIES user access for their facility, including from trusted vendors such as Simple.

If you haven’t yet set up a PSO, it’s critical you do so immediately. Follow these steps to register the PSO for your facility:

1. Identify at least one individual within your organization who will be the PSO. This person will then approve future iQIES roles, including a role for Simple as your authorized data submitter.
2. The PSO for your organization will then need to register for iQIES login credentials by creating an account in the HCQIS Access Roles and Profile (HARP) system at: https://harp.cms.gov/register
3. Set up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for the account and complete the Identify Proofing process.
4. Access iQIES using your HARP ID and password: https://iqies.cms.gov
5. Initiate your Provider Security Official (PSO) role request using your provider CCN.
6. Once your request is submitted AND approved, you will receive an email notification. At this point, you will have authority to approve/deny requests for iQIES access and role types in the HARP system.

For more info on the PSO process, visit this page. CMS has also provided videos explaining HARP registration.

At Simple, we understand there have been several twists and turns in the launch of iQIES. As CMS prepares for the very complicated launch of iQIES, it’s understandable that their guidance for providers/vendors has changed over time. We also know that this has caused confusion amongst our clients.

The important thing to remember is that Simple software will be ready for the iQIES change on Day 1. We’ve been preparing for iQIES for over two years, and we have worked hard to keep up with the changing guidance to ensure our systems are ready for the change.

To ensure your organization is also ready for the iQIES go-live on April 17, there are additional steps you MUST take so that Simple can continue to submit MDS data on your behalf. The PSO at your organization should follow these steps to ensure that your MDS data submissions are not interrupted during the iQIES transition.

NOTE: The following steps may differ slightly for single facilities vs. larger organizations.

• • For single facilities, the PSO can perform the steps as outlined. Once you have approved all six roles, your iQIES setup is complete.
  • For larger organizations with multiple facilities, the PSO should be able to approve the six new roles for multiple facilities simultaneously. Note that Simple is sending iQIES role requests through HARP in batches over multiple days, so you may need to perform these steps more than once in order to configure Submitter access for all facilities.

1. In the upcoming weeks, look for six individual emails from HARP requesting “Submitter” role authorization for Simple personnel. For Simple to continue submitting your MDS data, the active PSO for the facility MUST approve the following Simple employees:
   • • Jason Jones (VP and General Manager, Simple Solutions)
     • Collin Hall (Lead Software Architect, Simple Solutions)
     • Barry Moore (Team Lead and Lead Software Engineer, Simple Solutions)
     • Michael Schneider (Lead Dev Ops Engineer, Simple Solutions)
     • Luke Harrison (Functional Specialist, Simple Solutions)
     • Brenna Saxton (Team Lead and Senior Solution Support Analyst, Simple Solutions)
2. In HARP, look for the Security page, where you should find a list of “pending approvals,” that includes the six individuals.
3. Check the boxes for each of those six individuals and select “Approve.”

Thank you for being a Simple client! We appreciate your partnership as we work together to navigate this important transition to the new iQIES system.

Following are some frequently asked questions about iQIES and how it affects your Simple software and MDS transmissions: 

What is iQIES?

iQIES (internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System) is an internet-based system that will be used for all submissions and communications to/from CMS, including MDS submissions, surveys, and certifications. Official iQIES manuals from CMS can be found here.

CMS has been planning this transition for a few years. iQIES is already underway for home health agencies, but was delayed for skilled nursing facilities due to COVID. CMS recently announced that the official transition to iQIES for skilled nursing will occur on April 17, 2023. After that date, all transmissions to CMS will go through iQIES.

When will I receive the HARP emails asking me to configure iQIES Submitter roles for Simple personnel?

Due to the large number of Simple clients and the way HARP is configured, we have to send HARP role requests in batches. We have already begun this process, but it may take a few days/weeks before your facility receives these email requests. Please be patient if you don't see the email requests immediately. If you have questions in the meantime, please contact our Support Team for further information.

Will iQIES change how I submit MDS data through Simple?

No. If you have properly configured PSO and Submitter roles, allowing Simple to access and manage your MDS data, you will not notice a change in your MDS transmission workflow.

Where will I find my CASPER reports under iQIES?

CASPER reports can be manually retrieved by anyone with access to iQIES. Simple is updating our software to automatically retrieve those reports for you. This update will be available soon.

Will CMS provided any additional info or training resources?

CMS has said they will continue to provide information via email regarding iQIES training, technical guidance, details on what to expect, etc. CMS has also released several User Manuals for iQIES in January 2023.

Will Simple provide additional information about iQIES?

Yes. Simple is currently working on additional iQIES training content, which we will place inside our software applications for users to watch on-demand. In the meantime, please keep an eye on the Simple blog for the latest updates. We’ll also continue to update our clients via emails and application pop-up alerts.

What if I have more questions about iQIES or PSO/Submitter configuration?

The iQIES transition is a complicated process, and we understand this may cause confusion amongst some clients. After you’ve followed the steps above, if you still have questions, please reach out to our Support Team for further information.