07/17/2025

No Changes for Ohio Providers Amid Federal iQIES Rollout

As the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) transitioned its survey and certification systems from the Automated Survey Processing Environment (ASPEN) to the web-based Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) on July 14, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) confirmed that no changes were made to provider-facing systems in Ohio.

While some states moved to the federal electronic Plan of Correction (ePOC) system, Ohio providers continued using the state’s Electronic Information Data Collection (EIDC) system to submit Plans of Correction, desk reviews, informal dispute resolutions (IDRs), and waiver requests. ODH stated there was no need for providers to alter their submission processes, though some users may have noticed minor visual updates to the EIDC interface. Should future changes arise, ODH committed to notifying providers directly through EIDC alerts.

To ease the transition and reduce disruptions, ODH temporarily paused survey activity during the backend system updates, ensuring providers were not required to access EIDC during that time. These adjustments were administrative in nature and did not affect day-to-day provider operations.

Surveyors, however, began entering documentation into iQIES rather than ASPEN. Although the survey process itself remained unchanged, ODH began evaluating whether this shift could lead to connectivity challenges in rural areas. Most surveyors already relied on facility Wi-Fi, which was expected to minimize potential issues.

Providers operating across multiple states may have received information about changes related to the federal ePOC system. LeadingAge Ohio will continue to keep members informed about what specifically applies within Ohio. For any questions or issues related to EIDC or survey documentation, providers can contact ODH at BLTCQ@odh.ohio.gov.