FAQ Directory

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about NCQA’s various programs. If you don’t see what you are looking for in one of the entries below, you can  ask a question through My NCQA.

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8.15.2012 Evaluation Options: HEDIS Reporting and Scoring Will NCQA review and score HEDIS/CAHPS measures if a plan submits them for the Interim Evaluation Option?

No. HEDIS/CAHPS results will not be used to evaluate plans seeking accreditation through the Interim Evaluation Option.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:

8.15.2012 Evaluation Options: Accreditation Surveys May a plan that was denied accreditation reapply for accreditation in less than a year from the date of the Denied status?

Yes, a plan may apply for a new Accreditation Survey (called an Expedited Survey) in less than a year under specific circumstances, including:

The plan was denied accreditation under the Interim Evaluation Option and may reapply after three months.

The organization demonstrates to NCQAs satisfaction that the issues identified in the original survey can be corrected within a six- to nine-month time frame as a result of the organizations activity.

Correction of the issues would raise the organizations accreditation status in a new survey.

To qualify for an Expedited Survey, a plan must submit a written request listing the steps it has taken to address the substantive issues that led to its Denied Accreditation status.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:

8.15.2012 Evaluation Options: Survey Process Will NCQA conduct onsite surveys (at the health plan) for the Interim Evaluation Option?

No. NCQA conducts onsite surveys for the First and Renewal Evaluation Options, but not for the Interim Evaluation Option.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:

8.15.2012 Evaluation Options: Standards and Guidelines To which product lines and evaluation options do the Member Connections (MEM) standards apply?

MEM standards apply only to commercial product lines for the First Evaluation Option and the Renewal Evaluation Option.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:

8.15.2012 Evaluation Options: Accreditation Surveys How soon will plans be able to earn accreditation for their Exchange product line?

NCQA-Accredited plans can earn accreditation for their Exchange product line as early as February 2013. Plans without previous NCQA Accreditation can apply for the Interim Evaluation Option as early as September 2012 and have their Exchange product line accredited as early as October 2013.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:

8.15.2012 Evaluation Options: Status and Scoring Is it possible for plans to score higher than Accredited status during any First Evaluation Option years?

Yes. Plans that notify NCQA that they want to be scored on HEDIS/CAHPS measures by December 31 (before the June HEDIS reporting date) may score higher than Accredited status.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:

8.15.2012 Evaluation Options: Accreditation Surveys May plans decline the accreditation status earned for a Full Survey?

Yes. A plan surveyed under the First Evaluation Option may decline the accreditation status (without penalty) at the completion of the survey, within 30 calendar days from receipt of its results. A plan that declines its accreditation status has the option to undergo a Follow-Up Survey within 12 months of receipt of its Full Survey results.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:

8.15.2012 Evaluation Options: Basics For which Evaluation Options are organizations eligible if their accreditation has expired?

A plan whose accreditation status has expired or has been withdrawn for less than two years is eligible for the Renewal Evaluation Option with a 24-month look-back period.

A plan whose accreditation expired more than two years ago is eligible for accreditation through the Interim Evaluation Option or First Evaluation Options with a six-month look-back period.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:

8.15.2012 Evaluation Options: Status and Scoring Will currently accredited plans be scored 50 points for HEDIS/CAHPS and 50 points for standards?

No. Recalculation of accreditation scores is generally made against the HEDIS measures and point values in place at the time of the organizations last Full Survey.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:

8.15.2012 Evaluation Options: Basics Which Evaluation Option should plans with New Health Plan accreditation apply for next?

Plans with NHP accreditation must apply for the Renewal Evaluation Option with a 12-month look-back period.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:

8.15.2012 Evaluation Options: HEDIS Reporting and Scoring When must plans report HEDIS/CAHPS measures if they are going through the First Evaluation Option?

Plans report HEDIS/CAHPS measures during the third annual HEDIS reporting cycle of their accreditation status. For example, if an organization receives a status in September 2014, it must submit audited HEDIS/CAHPS results in June 2017.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:

8.15.2012 Evaluation Options: Status and Scoring How are plans scored that do not report HEDIS/CAHPS?

Standards-only accreditation scoring is based on 50 points.

This applies to the following Programs and Years: