Make sure to recertify EIDM users by June 30

Time is running out if your practice hasn’t recertified its user accounts in the Enterprise Identity Management (EIDM) system. Letting those accounts lapse could complicate reviewing your Quality and Resource Use Reports (QRURs) later.

Individual practitioners and providers’ security officials (SOs) have until June 30 to log into the system and recertify who in the practice has the right to access the system. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires users to recertify annually. Failure to recertify user roles will result in those roles being revoked. Once revoked, the user must go through the process of requesting the role from the SO or individual practitioner again.

The SO and individual practitioners can log into the CMS Enterprise Portal using existing credentials and access the list of users who require recertification. The list is located under the “View and Manage Access” page under the “Annual Certification” link on the left-hand side of the screen. If you experience issues, you can contact the QualityNet Help Desk at 1-866-288-8912. The QualityNet Help Desk can also tell you who the SOs are for your Tax Identification Number (TIN).

Maintaining access to the EIDM system is critical for the QRUR. CMS releases a mid-year QRUR and an annual QRUR. The 2015 mid-year reports were released in April, while the 2015 annual reports will be available in the fall. These reports provide information on a TIN’s performance on cost and quality measures. Practices can use the QRUR to review their performance and identify areas where improvement may be needed. Reviewing today will help practices prepare for the implantation of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA).

– Erin Solis is the Regulatory Compliance Strategist at the American Academy of Family Physicians