This email came through last night from NAHC with an update on the iQIES issues – please share with appropriate people in your agency:
Title: RE: QIES System Problems & CMS Penalty
From: NAHC
Posted on: Thu, 23 Jan 2020
NAHC spoke with CMS about the iQIES issues late this afternoon. Again CMS iterated that it recognizes there are problems with the transition, is tracking them daily and is working to resolve them, as well as putting all the issues into one list and making it available to the public. The issues are not at the level or of the type where CMS can implement a waiver of the submission requirements; however, CMS stressed that it does not intend to penalize providers for not meeting requirements when there are technology issues out of the provider’s control. CMS is speaking with the Regional Offices tomorrow and advising them to notify the survey agencies to take into consideration this transition period, and look for evidence that the HHA registered/attempted registration for iQIES timely and attempted submission of the OASIS timely but it was not received due to iQIES transition issues. CMS would not expect surveyors to cite providers who can clearly show this through items such as screen shots and validation reports. Any providers experiencing survey deficiencies for non-compliance with the 30-day submission requirement should avail themselves of the Informal Dispute Resolution process as appropriate and/or the survey agency’s dispute resolution process as well as notifying NAHC. We will communicate concerns to CMS.
There is not an expected resolution date to all of the issues as not all data on the issues is readily available and different issues may have different resolution dates.
NAHC will stay in communication with CMS on these issues and will continue to provide updates as they become available.
From: NAHC
Posted on: Thu, 23 Jan 2020
NAHC spoke with CMS about the iQIES issues late this afternoon. Again CMS iterated that it recognizes there are problems with the transition, is tracking them daily and is working to resolve them, as well as putting all the issues into one list and making it available to the public. The issues are not at the level or of the type where CMS can implement a waiver of the submission requirements; however, CMS stressed that it does not intend to penalize providers for not meeting requirements when there are technology issues out of the provider’s control. CMS is speaking with the Regional Offices tomorrow and advising them to notify the survey agencies to take into consideration this transition period, and look for evidence that the HHA registered/attempted registration for iQIES timely and attempted submission of the OASIS timely but it was not received due to iQIES transition issues. CMS would not expect surveyors to cite providers who can clearly show this through items such as screen shots and validation reports. Any providers experiencing survey deficiencies for non-compliance with the 30-day submission requirement should avail themselves of the Informal Dispute Resolution process as appropriate and/or the survey agency’s dispute resolution process as well as notifying NAHC. We will communicate concerns to CMS.
There is not an expected resolution date to all of the issues as not all data on the issues is readily available and different issues may have different resolution dates.
NAHC will stay in communication with CMS on these issues and will continue to provide updates as they become available.
Karen Peterson
Regulatory Affairs and Advocacy Manager
Minnesota HomeCare Association
2550 University Ave. W., Ste. 350 S | St. Paul, MN 55114-1900
Direct: 651.659.1457 | Main: 651.635.0607
Toll-free: 866.607.0607 | Fax: 651.635.0043
Mission: MHCA represents and supports Minnesota home care providers committed to high quality home care services.
Vision: MHCA will shape the home care landscape to improve and sustain quality home care services.