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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8.19.2020 Data Elements Table When reporting a measure as hybrid, should the data element “Number of numerator events by administrative data in eligible population (before exclusions)” be equal to the sum of “Numerator events by administrative data” and “Numerator events by supplemental data”?

Yes. This is true if the organization loads its supplemental data before approval. If the organization does not load its supplemental data until after approval is complete then “Number of numerator events by administrative data in eligible population (before exclusions)” will be equal to “Numerator events by administrative data.”
Appendix 4—Data Element Definitions of the MY 2020 & 2021 Volume 2 Technical Specifications includes an explanation of the data elements and how they are reported.

**This FAQ applies to HEDIS Volume 2 MY 2020 & MY 2021.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HEDIS MY 2021

8.19.2020 Data Elements Table When reporting a measure as hybrid, should the data element “Number of numerator events by administrative data in eligible population (before exclusions)” be equal to the sum of “Numerator events by administrative data” and “Numerator events by supplemental data”?

Yes. This is true if the organization loads its supplemental data before approval. If the organization does not load its supplemental data until after approval is complete then “Number of numerator events by administrative data in eligible population (before exclusions)” will be equal to “Numerator events by administrative data.”
Appendix 4—Data Element Definitions of the MY 2020 & 2021 Volume 2 Technical Specifications includes an explanation of the data elements and how they are reported.

**This FAQ applies to HEDIS Volume 2 MY 2020 & MY 2021.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HEDIS MY 2020

8.19.2020 Prenatal and Postpartum Care If a member has multiple enrollment segments without any gaps leading up to the delivery date, should we use the beginning of the first such segment as the start of the last enrollment segment?

Yes. Use the beginning of the first segment as the start of the last enrollment segment. For HEDIS Volume 2 MY 2020 & 2021, multiple enrollment segments with no gaps are treated the same as one enrollment segment with no gaps.

**This FAQ applies to HEDIS Volume 2 MY 2020 & MY 2021.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HEDIS MY 2020, 2021

8.19.2020 Prenatal and Postpartum Care Do telehealth visits meet criteria for both rates and for both data collection methods?

Yes. Services provided during a telephone, e-visit or virtual check-in are eligible for use in reporting for both rates (Timeliness of Prenatal Care and Postpartum Care) and for both data collection methods (administrative and hybrid).

**This FAQ applies to HEDIS Volume 2 MY 2020 & MY 2021.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HEDIS MY 2020, 2021

8.19.2020 Weight Assessment and Counseling for Nutrition and Physical Activity for Children/ Adolescents Do telehealth visits meet criteria for the components of the BMI percentile indicator?

Yes. Member-reported biometric values (height, weight, BMI percentile) collected during a telephone visit, e-visit or virtual check-in that meet the requirements of General Guidelines 39: Member-Reported Services and Biometric Values are eligible for use in reporting. 

**This FAQ applies to HEDIS Volume 2 MY 2020 & MY 2021.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HEDIS MY 2020, 2021

8.19.2020 Controlling High Blood Pressure Does the medical record documentation need to state the BP was taken with a digital device?

Documentation does not need to specifically state the BP was taken with a digital device or that it was not taken with a manual blood pressure cuff and stethoscope.

**This FAQ applies to HEDIS Volume 2 MY 2020 & MY 2021.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HEDIS MY 2020, 2021

8.19.2020 Palliative Care Exclusion May supplemental and medical record data be used to identify members for the Palliative Care exclusion?

Yes. Although the required palliative care exclusion is intended to be identified using administrative data, medical record and supplemental data may also be used. If a member is identified as being in palliative care during hybrid medical record review, the member must be removed from the sample and replaced with a member from the oversample. Count the member in the “Number of medical records excluded because of valid data errors” data element.

If organizations use supplemental data to remove members in palliative care from administrative-only measures or hybrid measures, they must follow the supplemental data guidelines (General Guideline 31). Count these members in the “Number of required exclusions” data element.

**This FAQ applies to HEDIS Volume 2 MY 2020 & MY 2021.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HEDIS MY 2020, 2021

8.15.2020 CR 7: Organizational Providers NCQA added language to CR 7 in the 2020 Health Plan Accreditation standards to clarify that Element A applies to all organizational providers (e.g., telemedicine providers, urgent care centers). What does NCQA mean by “all organizational providers”?

NCQA added the word “all” to CR 7 in the 2020 HPA standards and guidelines because it expects organizations to have policies for assessing all providers with which they contract. However, under the 2020 standards and in previous years, NCQA only scores policies for providers listed in CR 7, Elements B and C.
Because the definition may not be sufficient to clearly identify which organizations NCQA considers “providers,” here is a list of provider types in addition to those listed in Elements B and C:

  • Telemedicine providers.
  • Urgent care centers.
  • Hospice.
  • Clinical labs.
  • Comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities.
  • Outpatient physical therapy.
  • Speech pathology providers.
  • End-stage renal disease services.
  • Outpatient diabetes self-management training.
  • Portable x-ray suppliers.
  • Rural health clinics.
  • Federally qualified health centers.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HP 2021, 2020|MBHO 2020|UM-CR-PN 2020

7.15.2020 Updated: UM 11- Outsourcing Storage of Utilization Management Data To External Entities How many contracts does NCQA review for Elements A and B, factor 6 if an organization outsources UM data to external entities?

If an organization contracts with external entities to store its own UM data or contracts with UM delegates that store data, NCQA also reviews contracts from up to four randomly selected external entities, or reviews all external entities if the organization has fewer than four. If factor 6 is not addressed in a contract, the organization may also present the external entity’s policies and procedures for review. NCQA reviews documentation from the organization and from each external entity against the factor. To be scored “yes,” the organization and each external entity’s documentation must meet the factor.

Note: The underlined text is an update to the FAQ posted on June 15, 2020. Refer also to the FAQ on the same date regarding cloud storage entities.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
MBHO 2020

7.15.2020 Updated: UM 12- Outsourcing Storage of Utilization Management Data To External Entities How many contracts does NCQA review for Elements A and B, factor 6 if an organization outsources UM data to external entities?

If an organization contracts with external entities to store its own UM data or contracts with UM delegates that store data, NCQA also reviews contracts from up to four randomly selected external entities, or reviews all external entities if the organization has fewer than four. If factor 6 is not addressed in a contract, the organization may also present the external entity’s policies and procedures for review. NCQA reviews documentation from the organization and from each external entity against the factor. To be scored “yes,” the organization's and each external entity’s documentation must meet the factor.

Note: The underlined text is an update to the FAQ posted on June 15, 2020. Refer also to the FAQ on the same date regarding cloud storage entities.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
UM-CR-PN 2020|HP 2020

7.15.2020 Qualitative Analysis If quantitative analysis demonstrates that the organization met its goal or benchmark, must it perform qualitative analysis?

It depends. For initial measurement, the organization conducts quantitative and qualitative analysis of data.  
For remeasurement, the organization conducts quantitative analysis and also conducts qualitative analysis if quantitative analysis demonstrates that stated goals were not met
 

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HP 2020

7.15.2020 Updated: CR 1, Element C- Outsourcing Storage of Credentialing Data To External Entities How many contracts does NCQA review for Element C, factor 4 if an organization outsources credentialing data to external entities?

If an organization contracts with external entities to store its own credentialing data or contracts with CR delegates that store data, NCQA also reviews contracts from up to four randomly selected external entities, or reviews all external entities if the organization has fewer than four. If factor 4 is not addressed in a contract, the organization may also present the external entity’s policies and procedures for review. NCQA reviews documentation from the organization and from each external entity against the factor. To be scored “yes,” the organization's and each external entity’s documentation must meet the factor.

Note: The underlined text is an update to the FAQ posted on June 15, 2020. Refer also to the FAQ on the same date regarding cloud storage entities.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
MBHO 2020|UM-CR-PN 2020|HP 2020