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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3.15.2016 Types of files included in the UM 4–UM 7 file-review universe (excluding UM 4H) Are denials based on benefits (whether or not they underwent a medical necessity review) included in the file review universe for UM 4, Elements C–E, UM 5 Elements A-F, UM 6 and
UM 7?

No. Only denials based on medical necessity are included in the scope of review for UM 4, Elements C–E, UM 5 Elements A-F, UM 6 and 
UM 7.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:

3.15.2016 Review process versus review outcome Does the type of review (i.e., medical necessity, benefit or other) determine if a denial is included in the file-review universe for UM 4, Element H (UM 4F in UM-CR and MBHO)?

No. The outcome (reason for the denial) determines which files are included. If the decision is not made on the basis of medical necessity, but on the basis of a benefit or an administrative limitation, the file is included in the scope of UM 4, Element H (UM 4F in UM-CR and MBHO).

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
UM-CR 2016

3.15.2016 Expected Counts in IDSS for IHU, EDU and HPC How should the Expected counts be reported in IDSS for Inpatient Hospital Utilization, Emergency Department Utilization and Hospitalization for Potentially Preventable Complications? Do they need to be rounded?

The Expected counts, discharges or visits depending on the measure, must be rounded to four decimal places using the .5 rule when reporting the final values in the IDSS.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HEDIS 2016

2.24.2016 Digital Mammography for Breast Cancer Screening Is digital mammography included in the HEDIS® Breast Cancer Screening Measure?

The HEDIS® 2016 Breast Cancer Screening (BCS) measure aligns with the 2009 US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines. The guideline concluded the evidence was insufficient to assess the additional benefits and harms of digital mammography instead of film mammography for breast cancer screening. NCQA understands mammography practice, coding and technology have evolved over time to include digital mammography, and the current HEDIS measure includes CPT codes that represent either traditional mammography or digital mammography and cannot be delineated through administrative reporting. However, three HCPCS G codes, specific to digital mammography, were inadvertently included in the Mammography Value Set. Because the HEDIS 2016 specifications are frozen, NCQA will allow plans to follow the current measure specification and associated value sets as written.

The measure will be evaluated for HEDIS 2017 and the value-sets will be updated accordingly based on newly released USPSTF Guideline recommendations.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HEDIS 2016

2.19.2016 P4P Value Set Directory The Ambulatory Surgery Option A and Laboratory and Pathology Services value sets each contain 8 codes that begin with “X” (e.g., X1020913) and are labeled as CPT codes. Are these valid codes, and should they be used for P4P reporting?

No. The CPT codes that begin with “X” are not valid and are not required for use in P4P reporting. Organizations can exclude these codes from the value set. If these codes were included in P4P programming, it is expected that there will be no impact; the codes are not valid and will not occur in claims data.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
IHA P4P

2.05.2016 Meaningful Use of Health IT: CMS EHR Incentive Program May we exclude from our NPI list and e-Measure submission, providers with a hardship exception from CMS for the EHR Incentive Program?

Yes. POs may exclude providers with this CMS hardship exception from their NPI list and e-Measure reporting.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
IHA P4P

1.27.2016 Meaningful Use of Health IT: e-Measures For the e-Measure portion of the MUHIT domain, POs are scored only on the “percentage of providers who can report the e-Measure.” Do we need to report both metrics for each e-Measure, or just the first rate?

To receive credit, POs must submit both metrics for each e-measure. Refer to the “Clinical Quality Measures” section on page 140 of the MY 2015 Value Based P4P Manual for information about submitting results.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
IHA P4P

1.27.2016 P4P NDC Tables We noticed discrepancies between pharmacy tables in the MY 2015 Value Based P4P Manual and the drugs included in the HEDIS 2016 Volume 2 pharmacy tables and HEDIS 2016 NDC lists. Is this intentional?

The pharmacy tables included in the MY 2015 Value Based P4P Manual should align with the pharmacy tables in HEDIS 2016 Volume 2.
 
General Guideline 32. Measures That Use Pharmacy Data states, “NCQA specifies a standardized list of medications known as the Nation Drug Code (NDC) list that applies to each pharmacy dependent measure. POs and health plans are required to use the list for applicable measures.” Find the NDC lists at: http://www.ncqa.org/HEDISQualityMeasurement/HEDISMeasures/HEDIS2016/HEDIS2016NDCLicense/HEDIS2016FinalNDCLists.aspx
 
The table contains changes that should be reflected in the P4P drug tables.   
 

P4P Table Name Drug Table Corrections
CDC-A, CBPH-A, and SPD-A: Prescriptions to Identify Members with Diabetes
 
 
  • Add “Empaglifozin-linagliptin” to the Antidiabetic combinations row.
  • Add “Empagliflozin-metformin” to the Antidiabetic combinations row.
  • Add “Dulaglutide” to the GLP1 agonists row.
  • Add “Insulin human inhaled” to the Insulin row.
  • Add “Canagliflozin-metformin” to the Antidiabetic combinations row.
  • Add “Empagliflozin” to the Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor row.
Table SPC-B: High and Moderate-Intensity Statin Medications
  • Remove obsolete medication “Aspirin-pravastatin 40-80mg” from the Moderate-intensity statin therapy row.
Table SPD-B: High, Moderate and Low-Intensity Statin Prescriptions
  • Remove obsolete medication “Aspirin-pravastatin 40-80mg” from the Moderate-intensity statin therapy row.
  • Remove obsolete medication “Aspirin-pravastatin 20mg” from the Low-intensity statin therapy row.
Table OMW-A: Osteoporosis Therapies
  • Remove obsolete medication “Calcium carbonate-risedronate” from the Biophosphonates row.
Table CHL-A: Prescriptions to Identify Contraceptives
  • Remove obsolete medication “Estradiol-medroxyprogesterone” from the Contraceptives row.
Table AMR-B: Asthma Controller and Reliever Medications
  • Remove obsolete medication “Triamcinolone” from the Inhaled corticosteroids row.
Table  CWP-A and URI-A: Antibiotic Medications
  • Remove obsolete medication “Sulfisoxazole” from the Sulfonamides row.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
IHA P4P

1.27.2016 Cervical Cancer Overscreening (CCO) For step 2 of the numerator, is the 30–64 age criterion only based on cervical cytology with an HPV co-test? Does cervical cytology between April 1, 2013, and December 31, 2015, and cervical cytology and an HPV co-test between April 1, 2011, and December 31, 2012, meet the numerator criterion for step 2?

No. The measure requires each rate to be reported separately and as a total rate. This example does not meet the numerator criterion because it ONLY looks at women 30–64 with more than one co-test, which is a combination of a cervical cytology screening AND an HPV test. Only women who had a combination of both tests more than once are included in the numerator.
 
Note: Current cervical cancer screening guidelines for average-risk women do not state that women 30–65 years of age with a “cervical cytology” in 3 years and a “cervical cytology and HPV co-test” in 5 years are considered overscreened. For P4P reporting, we look only at cases of overscreening as explicitly outlined by the guidelines. P4P staff and committees will continue to review clinical practices and cervical cancer screening guidelines.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
IHA P4P

1.27.2016 Proportion of Days Covered by Medications (PDC) In the December 1, 2015, version of the PQA NDC list (03_MY_2015_NDC_List_for_PQA-developed_measures_2015-12-01.xls), the columns for “Repaglinide_Flag” and “Canagliflozin_Flag” in the “Diabetes” tab are whited out. Should these columns be included?

Yes. The columns “Repaglinide_Flag” and “Canagliflozin_Flag” should be included in the December 1, 2015, version of the PQA NDC list. Even though these columns are not shaded and the name of the medication does not appear at the top, the “x” flags appear in the spreadsheet.

 

An updated version of the PQA NDC list (03_MY_2015_NDC_List_for_PQA-developed_measures_2016-1-26.xls) is available from NCQA at: http://store.ncqa.org/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/2223/s/my-2015-p4p-manual-and-value-set-directories/

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
IHA P4P

1.15.2016 Utilization of the PHQ-9 to Monitor Depression Symptoms for Adolescents and Adults Is the Utilization of the PHQ-9 to Monitor Depression Symptoms for Adolescents and Adults (DMS) measure audited or part of the Measure Certification program for HEDIS 2016?

No. The DMS measure is not part of the NCQA Audit or the Measure Certification program for HEDIS 2016.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HEDIS 2016

1.15.2016 Applicability of Exception for the First Evaluation Option Are QI 3, Elements A–C NA for organizations coming through the First Evaluation Option (for health plan accreditation) or Initial Survey (for MBHO accreditation) if no new contracts were executed within the six-month look-back period?

No. In such cases, NCQA expands the look-back period and reviews contracts executed any time prior to submission of the survey tool.

This applies to the following Programs and Years: