2018 CMS Web Interface APIs Available for Preview in Production Preview Environment

[Developer Group for CMS Web Interface]

Dear Quality Payment Program Participant:

 

CMS values stakeholder feedback and continuously seeks to obtain input from Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) groups that report via the CMS Web Interface. The feedback received has enabled CMS to enhance and improve the user experience of reporting data for the Quality performance category under the Quality Payment Program. Based on the input from stakeholders, CMS is in the process of developing the functionality of the Application Programming Interface (API) for reporting via the 2018 CMS Web Interface. The 2018 CMS Web Interface API is accessible through the Quality Program Portal Developer Tools. API allows MIPS groups to programmatically submit and receive data via a predefined structured format, which provides immediate, succinct, and actionable feedback once data is submitted using the 2018 CMS Web Interface. 

 

The 2018 CMS Web Interface API is accessible for preview in the production preview environment from September 11, 2018 to January 4, 2019. MIPS groups have an opportunity to test the API endpoints and the functionality of submitting data and receiving feedback via API. In order to preview the 2018 CMS Web Interface API that is in production, an Enterprise Identity Data Management (EIDM) account is required with a Web Interface Submitter Role designation. CMS strongly encourages MIPS groups that do not already have an EIDM account to obtain an EIDM account as soon as possible. This will ensure that groups have a sufficient amount of time to access the production preview environment and test the functionality of the API in advance of the CMS Web Interface submission period. Refer to the EIDM User Guide for information on how to create an EIDM account.

 

MIPS groups that used the CMS Web Interface for 2017 reporting will receive a production-like beneficiary data set based on beneficiary data submitted for 2017. MIPS groups that did not use the CMS Web Interface for 2017 reporting will receive a data set based on mock beneficiaries. The utilization of this data enables MIPS groups to test and map data to their EHRs for end-to-end testing. During the 2018 CMS Web Interface API preview period, the data set may be updated periodically. Adequate notice will be provided to the users prior to any updates to the data set. The 2018 CMS Web Interface API production preview environment contains the same security infrastructure as the production environment. It is imperative that organizations/developers treat the data in this environment as production data.

The 2018 CMS Web Interface will also allow ACOs to manually enter and submit data using the Excel template.

For more information, please review the following:

•         2018 CMS Web Interface API Narrative Documents https://cmsgov.github.io/beneficiary-reporting-api-docs/

•         Swagger Documents - Open VPN is needed to access the swagger documents in development https://qpp.cms.gov/api/preview/submissions/web-interface/docs

•         Developer Group for QPP APIs (Google Group) https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/cms-web-interface