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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6.14.2018 KM 10 (Pediatric Specific) How can we best collect language needs information from all patients in our large population?

Practices can use two methods to collect language need information:

1. Collect data from all patients and their families to create a report showing language needs.

2. Obtain data from an external source (e.g., data about the local community or its patient population).

Patients who do not speak English and patients from racial/ethnic minority groups may be less inclined to provide this information. Care should be taken to request the information using methods that respect multi-cultural differences.

  • Pediatric-specific resources: 

PCMH 2017

6.14.2018 KM 12B (Pediatric Specific) Do Tdap and DTaP count as two different immunizations?

No. Although the immunizations are different formulations, Tdap and DTaP are integrally related. For this reason, NCQA considers them the same immunization for different age groups and does not accept them as two different immunizations.

PCMH 2017

6.14.2018 CC 04B (Pediatric Specific) Does every referral to a specialist require sharing test results and a current care plan? Pediatric patients may be referred to a specialist for an acute condition that does not require a care plan.

If the condition is acute care management, the plan may be simpler than for a patient with a complex, chronic condition. The plan of care would include current medications, tests, treatment, patient/family self-care and important information about the family. While not every referral would have the same level of detail, be prepared to show a referral example for a patient that does have a care plan with the expected details. 

PCMH 2017

6.14.2018 KM 12C (Pediatric Specific) Give examples of pediatric acute care services.

A reminder to schedule a follow-up visit related to an infection (e.g., otitis media, pharyngitis, urinary tract infection) or an injury (e.g., fracture, burn or cut requiring stitches) applies as an acute care service. 

PCMH 2017

6.14.2018 QI 01 (Pediatric Specific) Can a practice use the CHIPRA Initial Core Set of Children’s Health Care Quality Measures?

Yes. Measures from the CHIPRA Initial Core Set meet the requirements.

PCMH 2017

6.14.2018 QI 02B (Pediatric Specific) What are some examples of utilization measures appropriate for pediatric practices?

Emergency department visits for ambulatory-care sensitive conditions.

Re-admissions within 30 days.

Urgent care visits while the practice is open.

PCMH 2017

6.14.2018 KM 02F (Pediatric Specific) How do clinicians assess the pediatric patient's ability to interact with other kids in a normal fashion? If the child is functioning normally in school would that suffice?

A social-emotional screening tool would be the best route to assess this, and the recommendation is for that screening to be done on a regular basis.

PCMH 2017

6.14.2018 KM 24 (Pediatric Specific) • AAP resource:

− Shared Decision-Making in Pediatrics: A National Perspective Pediatrics 2010;126;306: 
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3373306/ 

PCMH 2017

6.14.2018 KM 02G (Pediatric Specific) What are some examples of social determinants of health for children?

Social determinants of health include things like poverty, food insecurity, poor housing quality or homelessness, unstable neighborhoods, and parental dysfunction (e.g., domestic violence, mental illness, etc.).

PCMH 2017

6.14.2018 AC 12 (Pediatric Specific) • AAP practice transformation resources—telephone care:

6.14.2018 KM 12B (Pediatric Specific) Does a list of pediatric patients from two age groups (e.g., 2-year-olds and 6-year-olds) that are “behind” on immunizations meet the requirements of this criterion?

No. Practices may not use the same immunization for two age groups, and must identify two different immunizations for this criterion.

PCMH 2017

6.14.2018 KM 09 (Pediatric Specific) The examples provided in the guidance section for this criterion aren’t typical characteristics for pediatric practices (e.g. gender identify, sexual orientation, occupation, etc.). What other options can a pediatric population use for its third aspect of diversity?

Identifying children with Medicaid insurance would meet the intent of this criterion, as this identifies a population that could be at risk or require additional attention or care management. Other areas of diversity could include homelessness, immigrant status, living in a rural or urban environment, family employment status, family socioeconomic status, families with a single parent, etc. 

PCMH 2017