Reminder: ePOC Transition to iQIES for Nursing Homes July 14, 2025 (SNF)
On July 14, 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will release the new Internet Quality Improvement & Evaluation System (iQIES) Electronic Plan of Correction (ePOC) system functionality to participating nursing facilities and state agencies. Once ePOC functionality is enabled in iQIES, the current ePOC system will be disabled. Nursing facility providers that currently use ePOC will need to request the Provider ePOC Administrator role in iQIES after signing up for HCQIS Access Roles & Profile (HARP) access.
CMS posted updated User Manuals to the QTSO site, along with training in QSEP for the iQIES Provider ePOC Administrator Role. All persons who will need to obtain access should review the training.
Please be aware of these important details:
- The current ePOC system will be shut off tomorrow, July 10, 2025, with the start of the new ePOC system in iQIES coming online July 14, 2025. States were provided with insight regarding gap period concerns in the cutover guidance release by CMS, up to and including the use of paper backup to ensure a successful transition. “Old” POCs will transition to iQIES for future reference.
- You will not be able to request the Provider ePOC Administrator Role in iQIES until July 14. Users however can sign up for a HCQIS Access Roles and Profile (HARP) account now, which is required to obtain an iQIES role. CMS will send out additional information when the iQIES Provider ePOC Administrator role becomes available.
- For your “Provider ePOC Administrator role” request to be approved, your organization must have at least one Provider Security Official (PSO) assigned. This should already be established as iQIES is currently used for MDS submission and related reports. CMS recommends that at least two PSOs be established for every CMS certified nursing facility provider.
- Nursing Facility User Training – Provider ePOC Administrator Role is now available in QSEP. Facilities that currently utilize ePOC should have all designees review this training module and the accompanying User Manual.