The HOPE assessment tool officially went into effect on October 1, 2025, with data transmission expected to begin through the iQIES system at that time. So far, there haven’t been reports of major transmission issues. However, we have seen that some software systems are experiencing minor “quirks” or “glitches” in their functionality.
There are a few important things you should be reminded of. First, make sure your EMR system is correctly generating the HOPE files for transmission. Don’t assume that pressing a single button will complete the process perfectly. Start by reviewing your export files to confirm that all the HOPE documents you intend to send are included and ready for transmission.
Secondly, when transmitting files through the iQIES system, be sure to review the final validation reports once they are available. These reports may take up to 24 hours to process after submission, but it is essential to check them to confirm that all assessments have been successfully received.
In the calculation of compliance for the Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP), at least ninety percent of HOPE assessments must be transmitted timely to meet compliance requirements. If validation reports are not reviewed or if files are not properly verified before export, some assessments may remain in your system without ever reaching iQIES. This could create significant issues once data reconciliation occurs. It is therefore essential to regularly reconcile transmissions, review all final validation reports, and address any warnings or fatal errors that appear.
A timeliness compliance report is available in iQIES, located in the same area as your CASPER reports. This report provides ongoing updates on your current status toward meeting the 90% HOPE transmission compliance requirement. Be sure to review this report regularly to stay informed and maintain compliance.
Finally, if you have any HIS assessments completed before October 1 that still need to be submitted, be sure to transmit them through the QIES system, not the new iQIES platform. The iQIES system will not accept these older assessments, so they must be sent using QIES to ensure proper submission.
Remember that if an HIS assessment was completed for a patient before October 1 and that patient remains on service after that date, only a HOPE discharge assessment is required. No additional HOPE assessments need to be completed for those patients.
HPS stands ready to assist you with any HOPE information you may need, including information about transmission or education about completion of the HOPE tool. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
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