Apr 29, 2020
Greetings Long-Term Care Hospital Providers:
The Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) user tool is now available for LTCHs. This functionality replaces the LASER (LTCH Assessment Submission Entry and Reporting) application currently used to collect facility, patient, and assessment information. LTCHs who were using LASER to create assessments and generate an XML file containing their assessment records for upload to iQIES are required to migrate to the use of the iQIES user tool or other vendor software that supports data entry and submission of LTCH Data Care Set (LCDS) data to ensure their assessment records are validated against the most recent data submission specifications. LASER will not support the required data submission specifications that will be in effect October 1, 2020. The iQIES user tool allows providers to input patient information and create assessments in real time, and receive error messages, if any, as responses are entered in each section of the Long Term Care Data Set (LCDS), which will expedite entry and reduce burden. Providers who chose to migrate to the new iQIES LTCH user tool will no longer be required to export XML records into a zip file for upload to iQIES once the assessment is completed. Completed assessments are submitted directly to CMS.
Note: With this release, LTCH users will be required to request a new user role in iQIES via My Profile in iQIES if they currently do not have a Provider Security Official (PSO) role. There are two user roles that allow you to create assessments and one to view assessments:
- Provider Assessment Coordinator: As an assessment coordinator, you can view and create assessments; view, create and manage patient profiles; generate and view reports.
- Provider Administrator: This role provides the same functionality as an assessment coordinator PLUS the ability to modify and inactivate assessments; generate and view reports.
- Provider Assessment Viewer: As an assessment viewer, you can view patient profiles and their assessments; generate and view reports. .
Note: For details on how to create an account in iQIES and for a description of all the roles available to your organization, please refer to the iQIES Onboarding Guide, which can be accessed using the following link: https://qtso.cms.gov/system/files/qtso/iQIESOnboardingGuide-WebVersion_0.pdf
Note: To view training videos, please access the following link to the iQIES Training channel on YouTube, which contains several videos detailing the process of managing patient assessments directly in iQIES: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaV7m2-zFKpj2t7Qhn7ONiM0Zb_A1MTIq.
Thank you for your patience during this transition period. If you have questions regarding the information above, please contact the QIES Technical Support Office (QTSO) help desk via phone at 800-339-9313 or by email at iqies@cms.hhs.gov. If you need assistance with accessing iQIES, please consult the designated Security Official for your organization or contact the help desk.