What to Expect: PBJ Data Submission and Reporting in iQIES

Regulations; PBJ; CMS
 
Published:July 07, 2026
Raven Jackson

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that, effective August 17, 2026, the Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) system will transition to the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES), CMS's secure cloud-based system.  

Providers are encouraged to begin registering and obtaining access to PBJ roles in iQIES as outlined in the previous CMS announcement Correction: iQIES PBJ Launch Announcement.  

As CMS transitions PBJ submission and reporting to iQIES, providers and vendors should be aware of the following key system benefits, reporting updates, and available support resources. 

Key Benefits of iQIES for PBJ 

  • Single system access for PBJ submission and reporting 
  • Access to iQIES anywhere within the United States 
  • Tips and guidance within iQIES to assist with uploading PBJ files and accessing reports 
  • Familiar submission process, with file uploads similar to QIES 

What Providers and Vendors Should Expect 

  • After August 14, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET, QIES will no longer accept PBJ submissions. 
  • Beginning August 17, 2026, PBJ submissions for Quarter 4 must be submitted through iQIES.  
  • PBJ submissions for Quarter 4 will not be accepted in QIES or iQIES from July 1, 2026, through August 16, 2026.  

QIES / iQIES Report Information 

  • Beginning August 17, 2026, users will be able to access and run PBJ reports in iQIES. 

  • Ten years of PBJ data will be migrated into iQIES, allowing users to run reports for both QIES and iQIES submissions (except the Submitter Final Validation Report).  

  • CMS has provided a list of PBJ reports available in iQIES, including corresponding CASPER and iQIES report names and any differences users should be aware of.  

  • Following migration, PBJ reports in the Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reporting (CASPER) application will be decommissioned, with two exceptions for a limited time: 
    • System-generated final validation reports for submissions completed in QIES 
    • User-requested PBJ Submitter Final Validation Report 

Training and Support 

For assistance with reports, users can reference the CMS iQIES Reports User Manual, iqies Reference & Manuals | QIES Technical Support Office.  

Training materials, user guides, and technical documents will be posted on the QTSO website prior to the iQIES PBJ launch. 

Providers and vendors are encouraged to review these resources to support onboarding and ongoing system use. 

Questions: 

Policy Questions 

Technical Questions 
Contact the iQIES Service Center at (800) 339-9313, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. ET. 

Providers may also request assistance through secure chat or schedule a call via CCSQ Support Central. Please note that chat support is currently available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. ET. 

For AHCA assistance, please contact regulatory@ahca.org.​

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