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: Basics Must NCQA-Accredited plans go through the Renewal Evaluation Option?

Yes. To maintain its accreditation, an NCQA-Accredited plan must go through the Renewal Evaluation Option.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:

8.15.2012 Evaluation Options: Eligibility How long must a plan be in operation before applying for NCQA Accreditation?

Plans may apply for the Interim Evaluation Option and the First Evaluation Option at any time, regardless of how long they have been in operation.

For the Interim Evaluation Option, plans must show evidence that they met the requirements before the survey start date.

For the First Evaluation Option, plans must show that they met the requirements for the six months before their survey date.

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A plan whose accreditation status has expired or has been withdrawn for less than two years is eligible for the Renewal Evaluation Option with a 24-month look-back period.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: Standards and Guidelines Several elements in the First Evaluation Option require annual evaluation, even though the Evaluation Option has a six-month look-back period for all other elements. How do plans meet this annual requirement?

NCQA will expand the look-back period if it is necessary for plans to demonstrate that performance requirements are met and to produce an adequate sample for file reviews. For annual requirements, plans must complete the activity at least once during the prior year.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:

8.15.2012 Evaluation Options: Accreditation Surveys How do plans add an Exchange accreditation to an existing accreditation?

Plans submit an application identifying whether their Exchange product will be operated the same as the accredited product. If 70 percent of the Interim Evaluation Option elements are the same, the Exchange product line receives automatic accreditation under the plans accreditation. If the majority of the operations are not the same, plans undergo a streamlined Add-On Survey with a six-month look-back period.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:

7.16.2012 Medical Record Review Validation Have the criteria for determining a unique medical record process changed?

No. If the MRR processwhich includes training, tools, interrater reliability checks, rater-to-standard tests and any other quality control processis different by plan, product or product line, the auditor must conduct separate MRRV for each process by following the new validation steps.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HEDIS 2013

7.16.2012 Medical Record Review Validation Has NCQA communicated the changes to the MRRV process?

Yes. We sent communication to plans, auditors, vendors, physician groups, purchaser groups and state and federal agencies.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HEDIS 2013

7.16.2012 Medical Record Review Validation Does NCQA expect a decrease in rates with this new policy?

Although NCQA does not anticipate that rates will decrease, plans will need to start early and collect all data by May 15 to ensure that their rates are not affected.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HEDIS 2013

7.16.2012 Medical Record Review Validation In HEDIS 2013, are there new requirements for MRRV?

For HEDIS 2013, NCQA will adopt a new audit process that uses like-measure groupings for measure validation, includes hybrid measure exclusions, applies a different statistical test to the process and clearly defines MRR milestones to ensure consistency across plans.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HEDIS 2013

7.16.2012 Medical Record Review Validation Does the audit timeline have a new MRR completion date?

Yes. For HEDIS 2013, NCQA will enforce a medical record review deadline of May 15 (the previous deadline was May 10). No charts will be accepted past this deadline, when auditors will begin to review records. Holding all plans to the same timeline ensures comparability among submissions.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HEDIS 2013

7.16.2012 Medical Record Review Validation Why did the MRRV policy change?

NCQA continually reviews the audit process to ensure that it meets all applicable reporting requirements and is the rigorous process expected by all stakeholders.

Responding to increasing pressure from incentive programs, and with CMS input, over the past year NCQA developed the audit policy described in the June 19 MRRV memo. This change will make a more exacting process that ensures enough time for auditing and reporting valid results.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HEDIS 2013

7.16.2012 Initiation and Engagement of Alcohol and Other Drug DependenceTreatment The Engagement of AOD Treatment indicator requires initiation of AOD treatment and two or more inpatient admissions, outpatient visits, intensive outpatient encounters or partial hospitalizations with any AOD diagnosis within 30 days AFTER the date of the Initiation encounter (inclusive). Does "inclusive" mean that the initiation visit is included when determining compliance for engagement? What does "after" mean?

"Inclusive" means that the initiation visit is included when determining compliance for the Engagement of AOD Treatment indicator; therefore, the initiation visit is day 1 in the 30-day count. "After" means that the two additional visits must occur after the date of the initiation encounter. For example, if a members initiation visit occurred on August 1, the engagement visits must occur on August 2 through August 30.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HEDIS 2013