At PPS, we are extremely pleased with our latest software development, which we couldn’t wait to share with our many satisfied cost report software customers.
CMS has given their approval for us to produce the mandatory PI (“Picture Image”) files as PDFs. (For more information on PI files, see our blog on ECR and PI files.)
What this means for our software users is an expedited ECR creation process. When you click that “Create ECR” button (or menu option, from software with a menubar,) you will be pleased at the amount of time saved. Your intermediary will like it, too, because the PI file is much easier to read as a PDF.
The steps to ECR creation are the same as always:
- Fill in all required information
- Clear all Level I edits and make sure Level II edits are justifiable
- Click the “Create ECR” button
With the change to PDF files, instead of your PI file ending in a .15A or .15A1 extension this year, it will end with a .15A.pdf or .15A1.pdf extension. Your computer will recognize it as a PDF file, and your intermediary can view it with a standard PDF viewer.
A word of caution: Should you choose to open your PI file to view it, make sure to close without saving changes. Saving the pdf after opening the file will change the original encryption which is needed for acceptance of the cost report. This may cause your cost report to be rejected.
Cost Report Blog 