Important iQIES Linking Information for Simple Clients 

CMS has announced that PBJ submission will move into iQIES on Aug. 17, 2026. PBJ reporting requirements and quarterly deadlines are not changing, but this system change does require updated access and linking approvals for Simple to continue supporting PBJ submission through iQIES. 

For Simple clients, these linking approvals are an important part of staying connected after the transition. Once the required iQIES linking requests are approved, Simple will have the access needed to continue supporting PBJ submissions after PBJ moves into iQIES. 

As always, Simple continues to monitor regulatory updates like these to help skilled nursing facilities stay informed and prepared. 

What Clients Need to Know 

For the Aug. 14, 2026 submission deadline for April through June staffing data, no immediate action is needed. 

To remain connected for the July through September staffing data submission, due Nov. 14, 2026, and all future submissions, Simple clients will need to approve iQIES linking requests as soon as they are received. 

These requests must be approved by the Provider Security Official, or PSO, for your facility or organization. The PSO may be someone at the facility, or it may be a regional or corporate team member who manages iQIES access for multiple facilities. 

For clients using Simple for MDS-related workflows, Simple is also increasing the total number of users from 5 to 9 to help support bandwidth and connection reliability after the transition. 

What to Expect 

Over the coming weeks, your organization may receive up to 13 iQIES linking requests. The number of requests may vary based on your facility or account setup. 

Each request will come from a Simple iQIES user. The users and email addresses you may see are listed below. 

What Clients Should Do Now 

At this time, please: 

• Identify your facility’s Provider Security Official, or PSO. 
• Confirm the PSO has access to iQIES through their HARP account. 
• Watch for iQIES linking requests from the Simple iQIES users listed above. 
• Approve the requests as soon as possible once received. 

Once the linking requests are approved, no additional action is expected for this linking process. 

Why This Matters 

Approving these requests promptly will help ensure Simple has the access needed to support your PBJ submissions after the move to iQIES. 

This migration does not impact the upcoming Aug. 14, 2026 PBJ submission deadline. However, completing the required linking approvals will be important for the July through September staffing data submission, due Nov. 14, 2026, and future PBJ submissions through Simple. 

How SimplePBJ Can Help 

For skilled nursing facilities that do not currently use SimplePBJ, this transition may be a good time to review how your team manages PBJ submission, staffing data validation and CMS reporting workflows. 

SimplePBJ helps SNFs assemble, validate and submit PBJ data while improving visibility into staffing performance and potential Staffing Five-Star impact. As PBJ moves into iQIES, SimplePBJ can help facilities maintain a more organized submission process and better understand where staffing data may need review before submission. 

If your organization would like to learn more about how SimplePBJ can support PBJ submission confidence during this transition and beyond, contact our team.