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Three steps to IACS-PC registration
OPTOMETRIC ECONOMICS Three steps to IACS-PC registration
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s reported last month (April) in Optometry: Journal of the American Optometric Association, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are introducing a new online service that will allow Medicare fee-for-service providers to access, update, and submit information for the CMS Provider Enrollment Chain and Ownership System (CMS’ national provider enrollment system) and for the CMS Provider Statistical and Reimbursement Reports (PS&R). The agency believes health care providers will want to establish their online
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) outlines a 3-step process that will allow health care provider organizations to access new Medicare enterprise applications through the new Individuals Authorized Access to CMS Computer Services—Provider Community (IACS-PC) online service. accounts quickly so they can access the new applications as soon as possible. To access the applications, providers and appropriate staff must register through a new CMS security system known as the Individuals Authorized Access to CMS Computer Services—Provider Community (IACS-PC). Health care practitioners can register with the IACS-PC either as individuals (meaning the practitioner has sole access to the system) or as organizations (meaning multiple practitioners or staff members have access to the system through designated roles). Table 1
Registering for the IACS-PC as an individual is a relatively simple process. Providers must log onto the CMS Applications Portal (https://applications.cms.hhs.gov), select the role of “individual practitioner,” enter the required user information (name, date of birth, Social Security number), verify e-mail information, and provide required professional contact information. A tracking number then will be provided in case the practitioner wishes to check on the progress of the application. Once an application is processed, the practitioner will receive e-mails containing IACS-PC user identification and a temporary password. However, the CMS emphasizes that any practice that uses staff to perform tasks in the IACS-PC system must register as an “organization.” For that reason, most health care providers will probably to wish to register to use the online community as organizations. That involves a 3-step process, according to the CMS.
Step 1: IACS-PC registration For a health care organization to access enterprise applications through the IACS-PC, at least 2 people must register. The first person must register as a Security Official (SO) and the second as a User Group Administrator (UGA). In most practices, the role of the SO will probably be handled by the practitioner. The SO is accountable for all the users in the user group and approves the action of the UGA. The UGA, who in many practices might be the office manager, can be the sole administrator of the user group or can approve the actions of additional end users, such as a billing clerk or other office staff. Optional roles that can be assigned in the system are the Backup Security Official (BSO), who serves as the Security Official when the SO is not available, and the UGA Contractor, who serves as the User Group Administrator when associated tasks are outsourced.
IACS-PC registration
IACS-PS role
Special notes
Associates with
Creates
Approved by
Approves
SO BSO UGA
Accountable for all users Optional Required; may be only member of group Optional; may be only member of group Member of user group; optional if less than 10 users
N/A Organization Organization
Organization Provider user group Provider user group
EUS help desk SO SO or BSO
BSO and UGA UGA End user
Organization
Surrogate user group
SO or BSO
End user
Provider user group OR Surrogate user group
N/A
UGA
N/A
UGA contractor End user
N/A ⫽ not applicable.
1529-1839/08/$ -see front matter © 2008 American Optometric Association. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.optm.2008.02.009
286
Practice Strategies
Table 2
Select application role independently for each CMS enterprise application
IACS-PC role
Application role
Special notes
Default approver if no approver in user group Default approver if no approver in user group Application approver for user group OR Application user Application approver for user group OR Application user
Must be member of user group for which they act as approver
SO
BSO
UGA
End user
Access to application
Approved by
Approves
Cannot access any application
No
N/A
Application approvers and members of user group without approver
Cannot access any application
No
N/A
Application approvers and members of user group without approver
Must be member of user group for which they act as approver
No
SO or BSO
Application users in user group
Yes
Approver (if no SO or BSO) SO or BSO
N/A
Approver (if no SO or BSO)
N/A
No
Yes
Application users in user group
N/A ⫽ not applicable.
In such cases, the UGA could access any CMS online application approved by the SO. The UGA can approve additional end users who can access applications through the system. A Backup Security Officer (BSO) may be designated if desired (see Table 1). For example, in a solo optometric practice, the practitioner might register as the SO with the practice office manager designated a UGA (and perhaps a BSO). The practice’s billing clerk might then be designated an end user.
Step 2: Select application roles For each CMS enterprise application accessible in the IACS-PC, administrators can apply appropriate roles to each user group. Core roles include Application User and Application Approver. An Application User typically enters and edits data in the system, while an Application Approver is authorized to approve or deny user requests for application roles. An application role determines how a user can interact with an application (i.e., “read-only” or “edit and submit data”). Roles may differ by application (see Table 2).
Step 3: Enter applications Once registered and assigned appropriate roles, health care organization members can access CMS online enterprise applications by logging onto the CMS Web site applications page (http://applications.cms.hhs.gov) and selecting “Enter CMS Applications Portal.” For assistance in accessing the IACS-PC, contact the CMS External User Services (EUS) Help Desk by e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at 866-484-8049. IACS-PC Quick Reference Guides (including a complete IACS User Guide and an IACS Individual Practitioner Registration Guide) can be accessed by selecting the IACS option on the CMS Web site Medicare Modernization Act page (www.cms.hhs.gov/MMAHelp). For additional information on the IACS-PC, see the April edition of Optometry (Medicare launching new online provider services, Optometry 2008;79:215-9) or the CMS’s Medicare Learning Network Matters articles on the IACS-PC (including articles SE0747, SE0753, and SE0754), which can be accessed on the CMS Web site at www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/.
A
s reported last month (April) in Optometry: Journal of the American Optometric Association, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are introducing a new online service that will allow Medicare fee-for-service providers to access, update, and submit information for the CMS Provider Enrollment Chain and Ownership System (CMS’ national provider enrollment system) and for the CMS Provider Statistical and Reimbursement Reports (PS&R). The agency believes health care providers will want to establish their online
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) outlines a 3-step process that will allow health care provider organizations to access new Medicare enterprise applications through the new Individuals Authorized Access to CMS Computer Services—Provider Community (IACS-PC) online service. accounts quickly so they can access the new applications as soon as possible. To access the applications, providers and appropriate staff must register through a new CMS security system known as the Individuals Authorized Access to CMS Computer Services—Provider Community (IACS-PC). Health care practitioners can register with the IACS-PC either as individuals (meaning the practitioner has sole access to the system) or as organizations (meaning multiple practitioners or staff members have access to the system through designated roles). Table 1
Registering for the IACS-PC as an individual is a relatively simple process. Providers must log onto the CMS Applications Portal (https://applications.cms.hhs.gov), select the role of “individual practitioner,” enter the required user information (name, date of birth, Social Security number), verify e-mail information, and provide required professional contact information. A tracking number then will be provided in case the practitioner wishes to check on the progress of the application. Once an application is processed, the practitioner will receive e-mails containing IACS-PC user identification and a temporary password. However, the CMS emphasizes that any practice that uses staff to perform tasks in the IACS-PC system must register as an “organization.” For that reason, most health care providers will probably to wish to register to use the online community as organizations. That involves a 3-step process, according to the CMS.
Step 1: IACS-PC registration For a health care organization to access enterprise applications through the IACS-PC, at least 2 people must register. The first person must register as a Security Official (SO) and the second as a User Group Administrator (UGA). In most practices, the role of the SO will probably be handled by the practitioner. The SO is accountable for all the users in the user group and approves the action of the UGA. The UGA, who in many practices might be the office manager, can be the sole administrator of the user group or can approve the actions of additional end users, such as a billing clerk or other office staff. Optional roles that can be assigned in the system are the Backup Security Official (BSO), who serves as the Security Official when the SO is not available, and the UGA Contractor, who serves as the User Group Administrator when associated tasks are outsourced.
IACS-PC registration
IACS-PS role
Special notes
Associates with
Creates
Approved by
Approves
SO BSO UGA
Accountable for all users Optional Required; may be only member of group Optional; may be only member of group Member of user group; optional if less than 10 users
N/A Organization Organization
Organization Provider user group Provider user group
EUS help desk SO SO or BSO
BSO and UGA UGA End user
Organization
Surrogate user group
SO or BSO
End user
Provider user group OR Surrogate user group
N/A
UGA
N/A
UGA contractor End user
N/A ⫽ not applicable.
1529-1839/08/$ -see front matter © 2008 American Optometric Association. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.optm.2008.02.009
286
Practice Strategies
Table 2
Select application role independently for each CMS enterprise application
IACS-PC role
Application role
Special notes
Default approver if no approver in user group Default approver if no approver in user group Application approver for user group OR Application user Application approver for user group OR Application user
Must be member of user group for which they act as approver
SO
BSO
UGA
End user
Access to application
Approved by
Approves
Cannot access any application
No
N/A
Application approvers and members of user group without approver
Cannot access any application
No
N/A
Application approvers and members of user group without approver
Must be member of user group for which they act as approver
No
SO or BSO
Application users in user group
Yes
Approver (if no SO or BSO) SO or BSO
N/A
Approver (if no SO or BSO)
N/A
No
Yes
Application users in user group
N/A ⫽ not applicable.
In such cases, the UGA could access any CMS online application approved by the SO. The UGA can approve additional end users who can access applications through the system. A Backup Security Officer (BSO) may be designated if desired (see Table 1). For example, in a solo optometric practice, the practitioner might register as the SO with the practice office manager designated a UGA (and perhaps a BSO). The practice’s billing clerk might then be designated an end user.
Step 2: Select application roles For each CMS enterprise application accessible in the IACS-PC, administrators can apply appropriate roles to each user group. Core roles include Application User and Application Approver. An Application User typically enters and edits data in the system, while an Application Approver is authorized to approve or deny user requests for application roles. An application role determines how a user can interact with an application (i.e., “read-only” or “edit and submit data”). Roles may differ by application (see Table 2).
Step 3: Enter applications Once registered and assigned appropriate roles, health care organization members can access CMS online enterprise applications by logging onto the CMS Web site applications page (http://applications.cms.hhs.gov) and selecting “Enter CMS Applications Portal.” For assistance in accessing the IACS-PC, contact the CMS External User Services (EUS) Help Desk by e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at 866-484-8049. IACS-PC Quick Reference Guides (including a complete IACS User Guide and an IACS Individual Practitioner Registration Guide) can be accessed by selecting the IACS option on the CMS Web site Medicare Modernization Act page (www.cms.hhs.gov/MMAHelp). For additional information on the IACS-PC, see the April edition of Optometry (Medicare launching new online provider services, Optometry 2008;79:215-9) or the CMS’s Medicare Learning Network Matters articles on the IACS-PC (including articles SE0747, SE0753, and SE0754), which can be accessed on the CMS Web site at www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/.