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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Although the event/diagnosis criteria do not specifically state "and/or," it is implied. As long as there are two outpatient visits or two nonacute inpatient discharges, or one outpatient visit and one nonacute inpatient discharge, with a diagnosis of RA, the member meets the criteria for eligible population.
No. GFR testing is not currently acceptable for the Medical Attention for Nephropathy indicator. Clinical experts determined that certain characteristics, such as age, sex and race, may impact the effectiveness of such tests for monitoring nephropathy. If a member was determined to have impaired kidney function based on a GFR test, it is expected that there would be other documentation in the medical record that would make the member compliant for the nephropathy indicator (e.g., documentation of a visit to a nephrologist or documentation of medical attention for any appropriate conditions listed in the specifications).
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Interim Evaluation Option has half of the number of elements as the First Evaluation Option, focuses on policies and procedures and is valid for 18 months.
The First Evaluation Option is valid for 36 months and focuses on policies and procedures, initial measurement and analysis of programs and file review.
Plans going through the Interim Evaluation Option can earn Interim status (HEDIS/CAHPS reporting is not required); plans going through the First Evaluation Option can earn either Provisional or Accredited status (if they are not scored on HEDIS/CAHPS).
Reporting is required during the third annual HEDIS reporting cycle for organizations going through the First Evaluation Option, which also gives plans the option to be scored on HEDIS/CAHPS results, allowing them to earn an accreditation status higher than Accredited.
The First Evaluation Option is for plans without existing NCQA Accreditation, and plans may, but are not required to report HEDIS/CAHPS until the third annual HEDIS reporting cycle. HEDIS/CAHPS reporting and scoring are required at the time of survey submission and annually thereafter for the Renewal Evaluation Option.
