A plan that scores less than 85 percent of the possible standards points must undergo a Resurvey within 12 months of the accreditation decision. The Resurvey look-back period is six months.
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.
Save your favorite pages and receive notifications whenever they’re updated.
You will be prompted to log in to your NCQA account.
Save your favorite pages and receive notifications whenever they’re updated.
You will be prompted to log in to your NCQA account.
Share this page with a friend or colleague by Email.
We do not share your information with third parties.
Share this page with a friend or colleague by Email.
We do not share your information with third parties.
Print this page.
Print this page.
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.
Plans can look in Appendix 1: Standards Points for 2013, in the 2013 Standards and Guidelines, for a summary table of approximate points for each Evaluation Option. Appendix 2: HEDIS and CAHPS Points contains a summary table for approximate points for HEDIS/CAHPS measures. Appendix 3: Points by Reporting Category contains a summary table of points by reporting category.
For the Interim Evaluation Option: Interim, to First, to Renewal.
For the First Evaluation Option: First to Renewal.
After a plan progresses to the Renewal Evaluation Option, all subsequent surveys will be for that Evaluation Option, unless the accreditation lapses for more than two years.
An Evaluation Option is defined by a distinct combination of requirements (standards and measures), scoring, statuses and length of accreditation. Health Plan Accreditation (HPA) 2013 has three Evaluation Options: Interim, First and Renewal. Plans are surveyed under one of the three evaluation options based on eligibility.
NCQA administers seven types of surveys to plans seeking accreditation: Full Survey, Follow-Up Survey, Resurvey, Add-On Survey, Expedited Survey, Corporate Survey and State and Federal Agency Survey.