August 28 2025
OASIS Answers
Categories: HOPE

From QIES to iQIES: What Hospices Need to Know About HOPE Now

by Marian Essey, RN, BSN, COS-C

Beginning October 1, 2025, hospices will transition from submitting data through QIES to iQIES with the launch of the Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation (HOPE). This change marks a major shift in the Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP). Hospices will need to be registered in iQIES to submit HOPE files.

HOPE records must be submitted via iQIES. HIS records will remain accessible in QIES for modifications and inactivations until February 15, 2026.

Important Messages from CMS

CMS has provided three important messages to hospices related to this transition to iQIES to ensure that hospices are onboarded to iQIES timely and are ready to submit HOPE data. Note that access to iQIES is not instantaneous and hospices should follow the directions provided in each of the directives below:

Vendor User Tool (VUT)

In addition, CMS has posted the Vendor User Tool (VUT) for vendor testing.

Questions about iQIES

iQIES Service Center Email: iqies@cms.hhs.gov
iQIES Service Phone Number: 1-800-339-9313

Next Steps for Hospices

Register in iQIES as soon as possible – access is not immediate.
Review CMS’ July and August announcements linked above.
Test systems with the Vendor User Tool.
Direct questions to the iQIES Service Center at iqies@cms.hhs.gov, or call 1-800-339-9313 (expect high call volumes).

To learn about accurately collecting HOPE items, check out the OASIS Answers’ HOPE in Action webinar.

Follow OASIS Answers to keep on top of new CMS information related to the Hospice Quality Reporting Program, the Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation (HOPE), and more!