4/25 EQRS Interruptions

On Thursday, April 25th, 2024, from 3 to 7 pm PST, CMS will upgrade identity management configurations. Users logging in to EQRS via HARP may experience intermittent connectivity issues with possible downtime from 5 to 6 pm PST. EQRS thanks you for your cooperation and patience. For assistance with EQRS technical issues, please contact the CCSQ Service Center, open Monday-Friday 5 am to 5 pm PST, at 866-288-8912, qnetsupport-esrd@cms.hhs.gov, or online at https://cmsqualitysupport.servicenowservices.com/ccsq_support_central.

7/17+ PY2024 QIP Review Period Begins

CMS reminds you that the PY2024 ESRD QIP Preview Period is scheduled to open on Monday, July 17, 2023, and close on Thursday, August 17, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.

When the Preview Period Opens: To view your facility or organization’s ESRD QIP scores, reports, and inquiries as a Facility Viewer or Facility or Corporate Point of Contact (POC):

• Complete the HCQIS HARP account registration process, if needed, by going to https://harp.cms.gov/login/login.  
• Log in to EQRS with your HARP account via https://eqrs.cms.gov/globalapp/.  
• Review the applications listed on the My Access screen in EQRS for “QIP.”
• Request and/or verify that the ESRD QIP role is active in EQRS. You can access training materials for these steps at: https://mycrownweb.org/harp-training/.

CMS strongly recommends EQRS users log into EQRS NO LATER THAN July 17, 2023, to verify that their EQRS role is active. Following this recommendation will help ensure necessary access during the ESRD QIP preview period. To login and verify your EQRS role click here: https://eqrs.cms.gov/globalapp/.

During the PY 2024 ESRD QIP Preview Period: CMS recommends that every organization take the following steps: 

• Facility Viewers and Facility and Corporate POCs should review their facility’s preview PSR, which is available through the ESRD QIP user interface in EQRS.
• POCs should submit inquiries about their facility’s PY2024 preview scores before the preview period concludes.

CMS will evaluate all inquiries and make any necessary adjustments to facility PSRs. Facilities will continue to receive responses to their inquiries via the ESRD QIP user interface in EQRS after the close of the preview period. 

More information on using EQRS including user role requests, downloading preview PSRs, and submitting inquiries will be covered in the August 8, 2023, ESRD QIP Town Hall event.

For assistance regarding the information in this message, please contact the ESRD QIP Team using the QualityNet Question & Answer Tool.

If you are having technical issues with accessing reports in the ESRD QIP user interface, please contact the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality (CCSQ) Service Center. The CCSQ Service Center is open Monday-Friday 5am to 5pm Pacific Time and can be reached via phone at 866-288-8912, email at qnetsupport-esrd@cms.hhs.gov, or on the internet at CCSQ Support Central.

1/19+ January EQRS Newsletter

CMS has issued the January EQRS News, featuring articles on the specifications required for computers used to access EQRS, PY2021 PSRs and PSCs, the lack of PART verification in EQRS, the ICH CAHPS Attestation, Clinical Closure deadlines, and the usual useful links to more information about EQRS and its environment, including the announcement of New User Training on January 19, 2021. If it’s required, the ICH CAHPS Attestation must be completed by March 1, 2021. Clinical Closure deadlines for September, October, and November 2020 have been extended to February 1, 2021. Find the January issue at https://mycrownweb.org/2020/12/january-2021-newsletter/, and a compendium of online EQRS, HARP, and QIP training resources at https://mycrownweb.org/education/.

Summer Provider Newsletters

Network Provider Newsletters for Summer 2020 have been published.  They include articles on:

• Network Support for COVID-19.
• The ESRD QIP.
• New QIP website interface.
• Staff Burnout.
• Patient Psychosocial Needs.
• NCC “Web Hub” for Patients (Network 16 only).
• Seeking Volunteers for Spanish-Speaking PAC (Network 18 only).
• Data Currency in CROWNWeb.
• Links to Network Patient Newsletters.
• Patient Emergency Preparedness.
• Interruptions in Service.
• KCER Newsletter.
• Staff Changes.
• Link to Events Calendar (Network 18 only).
• Network email Updates.

Find them at:

• Network 16: https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/nwrn.org/files/NL/16.Provider+Newsletter-++Summer+2020.pdf.

• Network 18: https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/nwrn.org/files/NL/18.Provider+Newsletter+SummerJune+2020.pdf.

3/17+ CROWNWeb March Newsletter

The March CROWNWeb Newsletter has been published, with articles on the 2744 Annual Facility Survey, 2744 Errors and Reports, Guidance for Submission of CMS-2728/CMS-2746, HARP Account Needed for EQRS Users, EQRS System Deadline Updates, and Clinical Closures, plus the usual collection of very useful links and notes.  Find the Newsletter at https://mycrownweb.org/2020/02/march-2020-newsletter/.  Noteworthy dates include:

• March 16, 2020 – QIP deadline for ICH CAHPS Attestation, Clinical Depression Screening and Follow-Up Plan, and December 2019 Clinical Data Submissions (extended from March 2, 2020; see https://nwrnbulletins.wordpress.com/2020/02/28/3-2-eqrs-qip-deadline-extended-to-march-16/).
• March 17, 2020 – CROWNWeb New User Training, https://mycrownweb.org/2020/03/th-mar-2020-announce/.
• March 26, 2020 – CROWNWeb Town Hall re EQRS data management requirements, https://mycrownweb.org/2020/03/th-mar-2020-announce/.
• March 31, 2020 – 2019 Form 2744 completion.
• March 31, 2020* – Clinical Closure for January 2020 CROWNWeb data.
• April 30, 2020* – Clinical Closure for February 2020 CROWNWeb data.
• June 1, 2020* – Clinical Closure for March 2020 CROWNWeb data.

* Your Network may require earlier Closure.

3/2+ EQRS/QIP Deadline Extended to March 16

CMS is extending the March 2, 2020 deadline till March 16, 2020 (11:59 pm PST) for submission to EQRS of the following QIP and Clinical data:

• ICH CAHPS Attestation.
• Clinical Depression Screening and Follow-Up Plan.
• December 2019 Clinical Data Submissions.

The extension applies only to the March 2020 data submission, and will have no effect on other due dates.  Facilities are encouraged to complete their HARP registration as soon as possible, as HARP is now the mandatory gateway to EQRS.  HARP training materials, Quick Start Guides, FAQs, and instructional videos can be found https://mycrownweb.org/harp-training/.  The QualityNet Service Desk at qnetsupport-esrd@hcqis.org or 1-866-288-8912 can provide assistance and answer questions.

2/21+ EQRS and HARP

The EQRS End-Stage Renal Disease Quality Reporting System will be unavailable due to system maintenance from 5pm PST on February 21, 2020 until 5am PST on February 24, 2020.  Effective February 24, 2020, HARP (HCQIS Access Role and Profile) credentials will be required to access EQRS.  Access EQRS at https://eqrs.cms.gov/globalapp.  HARP resources including training materials, Quick Start Guides, Frequently Asked Questions, and instructional videos can be found at https://mycrownweb.org/harp-training/.  The QualityNet Service Desk is available to provide assistance and answer questions, via email at qnetsupport-esrd@hcqis.org or telephone at 1-866-288-8912.

2/13+ HARP Training

CROWNWeb will offer online training on the new HCQIS (Healthcare Quality Information System) Access Roles and Profile system, or “HARP” on February 13, 2020, repeating it on February 19.  All EQRS (ESRD Quality Reporting System) users will need to register for a HARP account.  Find information and register for these online trainings at https://mycrownweb.org/pcw_lems/harp-training-2020-1/ (February 13) or https://mycrownweb.org/pcw_lems/harp-training-2020-2/ (February 19).

CROWNWeb also offers self-paced HARP training and information at https://mycrownweb.org/harp-training/.

CW January New User Training, Newsletter

CROWNWeb has published their January Newsletter, at https://mycrownweb.org/2020/01/january-2020-newsletter/.  It includes articles on

• Medication Reconciliation and its January 9 and 23, 2020 training sessions
• PY2020 PSRs and PSCs (see also https://nwrnbulletins.wordpress.com/2019/12/03/py2020-qip-final-psr-and-psc-released/)
• ICH CAHPS CY2019 exemption attestation (deadline March 2, 2020)
• CY2020 Clinical Depression Screening requirements
• January 16, 2020 training for ICH CAHPS and Depression Screening reporting requirements
• Clinical data submission deadlines (if your Network doesn’t require earlier submission)

Plus announcement of the January 21, 2020 New User Training, and the usual lists of always-useful resources and links.

Find information and register for the January 30, 2020 CROWNWeb Town Hall on signing up for HCQIS HARP at https://mycrownweb.org/pcw_community_events/january-2020-town-hall/.

CROWNWeb January Trainings & Town Hall

The January CROWNWeb Town Hall will take place on January 30, 2020 and cover the new HCQIS Access Roles and Profile (HARP) registration process and the ESRD Quality Reporting System (EQRS).  Find out more and register at https://mycrownweb.org/pcw_community_events/january-2020-town-hall/.

CROWNWeb Training on data entry for the new Medication Reconciliation Reporting Measure will be held on January 9, 2020 and repeated on January 23; see https://mycrownweb.org/2019/12/medrec-training-announce/.

Training on the ICH CAHPS and Clinical Depression Screening Reporting Requirements will be held on January 16, 2020; find details and register for this training at https://mycrownweb.org/pcw_lems/ich-cahps-and-clinical-depression-training-2/.