Application

Question: What application packet should I order if I am coming through a MCO or PPO Accreditation survey with a submission date AFTER July 1, 2008?

Answer: You should order the Health Plan Accreditation Application Packet. After July 1, 2008 the MCO and PPO products will come through the same accreditation process and under the same standards (2008).

Question: How do we fix the application if it is showing track changes mode?

Answer: In Word 2003, the user should go under Tools and then Options. Click on the Security tab and under Privacy Options remove the check mark in the box next to the statement “Make hidden markup visible when opening or saving.” In other words, this option should not be checked. 

Question: My organization has a proactively scheduled survey because it is currently accredited or certified by NCQA, when will the application material and fee be due? 

Answer: All application materials are due nine months prior to your submission date. Thirteen months prior to your submission date, the NCQA survey contact will receive an email with the application materials and invoice for the application fee.

Contracts/Agreements

Question: Where do we send the signed copy of the contract?

Answer: Please send two copies of the signed agreement which includes exhibits should be sent to: 
Cindy Francis Ringgold
Manager, Survey Support
NCQA
1100 13th Street NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005

Data Sharing Agreement

Question: What is the purpose of the data sharing agreement?

Answer: The purpose of the data sharing agreement is to provide confirmation that the organization(s) participating in a Single Site Multiple Entity (SSME) survey agree to the linking of ISS Survey Tools and transfer of survey data between tools. Each entity participating in a SSME survey must complete a data sharing agreement and send two copies for each entity along with the other survey agreements.

ISS Tool   

Question: How do I determine which standards year I should order my ISS Tool for?

Answer: The standards years run from July 1st  through June 30th. If you have a submission date scheduled on January 7, 2008, then you would order the 2007 ISS Tool. If your submission date is July 1, 2008 then you would order the 2008 standards or the most recent standards listed on line.  Please note: standards for all programs are not necessarily updated year to year.

Question: Can we use the same ISS Tool that we used for our last survey?

Answer: No, you must order a new tool for each Accreditation or Certification survey.

Question: I need to purchase the ISS survey tool. Can I do that on line? If so, where?

Answer: Yes, you may purchase your tool online by going to www.ncqa.org/publications.

Question: Where is the license number located in my ISS Tool?

Answer: The ISS Tool license number is located on the welcome page or once you are in the actual survey tool, it will be in uppermost blue bar on your web browser.

Survey Fees

Question: When will I be billed for my final survey fee?

Answer: Seventy-five days prior to your submission date, NCQA will send an email requesting final member, enrollee or file numbers used  to calculate the final survey fee. The amount the organization is invoiced is the total survey fee minus the application fee. Sixty days prior to your submission date, NCQA will email the final survey fee invoice to the NCQA contact. 

Question: When is the survey fee due to NCQA?

Answer: The survey fee is due 30 days from the date on the survey fee invoice. Please include a copy of the survey fee invoice with payment.

Question: Is there a physical street address that I can overnight mail the check and invoice?

Answer: Yes.    
Cindy Francis Ringgold
Manager, Survey Support
NCQA
1100 13th Street NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005