You'll need an EIDM account for this year's feedback reports

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is encouraging physicians to sign up or reactivate their Enterprise Identity Management (EIDM) accounts now ahead of the release this fall of a pair of important feedback reports. EIDM accounts are required to access the information, and signing up now will prevent delays when the reports are released.

An EIDM account allows physicians to view and download their Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) feedback report and Quality and Resource Use Report (QRUR). The PQRS report provides information on your performance in 2015 and any payment adjustments for 2017. The 2015 QRUR includes information on how your practice fared on quality and cost measures as well as any payment adjustment you may receive under the Value-Based Payment Modifier. (For more information, see "What You Need to Know About Medicare's New 'Quality and Resource Use Report'," FPM, November/December 2015.)

To sign up for an account, visit the CMS Enterprise Portal website and click “New User Registration” located under the CMS Secure Portal heading. Once you’ve created your username and password, you will need to request access for the “Physician Quality and Value Programs.” From there you can select the type of role. Each organization must have at least one Security Official unless they are a solo practice, in which you would designate an Individual Practitioner. If you need assistance in signing up for an account or are unsure if you or someone in your practice already has an account, you can contact the QualityNet Help Desk at 866-288-8912.

CMS has created an EIDM System Toolkit containing guides on signing up for an account. It is a good idea to review this information before beginning the application process to make sure you have all the information you need. CMS make take several weeks to approve your role request, so it is important to begin this process as early as possible.

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