FAQ Directory: HEDIS

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9.15.2021 Acute Hospital Utilization, Emergency Department Utilization and Hospitalization for Potentially Preventable Complications May covariance values be rounded before using them in the variance calculation?

No. Do not round covariance values for use in variance calculations. Member-level PPD and PUCD should be unrounded in covariance and variance calculations, although truncation to 10 decimal points is applied, per the previous step. NCQA intends to evaluate truncation and rounding logic throughout intermediate calculations to ensure consistency and reduce potential bias in a future publication release.

HEDIS MY 2022

7.15.2021 Colorectal Cancer Screening (COL) On May 18, 2021 the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) updated the colorectal cancer screening recommendations to screen for colorectal cancer in adults aged 45 to 49 years. Will NCQA update the COL measure to coincide with the USPSTF recommendations that lower the screening age to 45? If yes, what HEDIS year can we expect this change to be reflected in the measure specs?

NCQA is aware of updates to the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines for colorectal cancer screening. Given these updates, NCQA will evaluate potential changes to the HEDIS Colorectal Cancer Screening (COL) measure through input from our clinical and technical measurement advisory panels, the Committee on Performance Measurement and public comment. Any potential changes to the measure resulting from this evaluation would be included in the HEDIS MY 2022 Technical Update at the earliest.

HEDIS MY 2021

6.15.2021 General Guideline 31 Is data from a certified eCQM vendor considered standard supplemental data?

No. NCQA released a policy change in July 2020 stating that certified QRDA I files are not considered standard supplemental data for HEDIS® reporting in 2022 for HEDIS MY 2021. Because of the dual HEDIS publication, HEDIS MY 2021 Volume 2 did not account for this policy change, but it will be reflected in HEDIS MY 2022 Volume 2. However, this FAQ is a reminder the policy changed in July 2020 and therefore must be followed. Organizations should work with their auditor to have this data validated as nonstandard supplemental data.

HEDIS MY 2021

4.15.2021 Antidepressant Medication Management (AMM) For Effective Continuation Phase Treatment, how many days are counted in the 232-day interval if a prescription of a 90-days supply is dispensed on the 151st day?

Count 82 days in the 232-day interval for a prescription of a 90-days supply dispensed on the 151st day.

**This FAQ applies only to HEDIS Volume 2 MY 2021.

HEDIS MY 2021

4.15.2021 Persistence of Beta-Blocker Treatment After a Heart Attack (PBH) How many days are counted in the 180-day interval if a prescription of 90 days supply is dispensed on the 100th day?

Count 81 days in the 180-day interval for a prescription of a 90-days supply dispensed on the 100th day.

**This FAQ applies only to HEDIS Volume 2 MY 2021.

HEDIS MY 2021

1.15.2021 Transitions of Care (TRC) Volume 2 states that for MY 2021 reporting, the organization may reduce the sample size using the prior year’s audited, product line-specific rate. Which rate should organizations use for sample size reduction?

Organizations may reduce the sample size for the TRC measure based only on the prior year’s audited, product line-specific rate for the lowest rate among all reported TRC indicators.

HEDIS MY 2021

1.15.2021 General Guideline 15 When a member has dual enrollment in Medicaid/Medicare how long must the member be enrolled in Medicare (PFFS or primary Medicare enrollment in another organization) to be removed from the Medicaid product line?

There is no minimum enrollment requirement. Per General Guideline 15, members must meet the measure’s continuous enrollment requirements and be considered dually enrolled based on continuous enrollment criteria or the service date.
Organizations must follow General Guideline 15 with regard to assessing coverage and should review enough data to meet the measure specification requirement.

HEDIS MY 2021

1.15.2021 General Guideline 15 What is the time frame for assessing dual enrollment?

As stated in the General Guideline 15, the time frame is assessed by measure. For measures with continuous enrollment, dual enrollment is determined as of the end of the continuous enrollment period, or the last enrollment segment, if there is a gap at the end of the continuous enrollment period.
For measures without a continuous enrollment requirement, members must have dual enrollment on the date of service or the date of discharge.

HEDIS MY 2021

1.15.2021 General Guideline 15 What type of Medicare enrollment counts when assessing members with dual Medicaid and Medicare enrollment?

General Guideline 15 includes language about Medicare contracts required to report HEDIS. These are meant to indicate Medicare Part C or Medicare Parts A and B. Having only Medicare Part D does not qualify as coverage for dual enrollment.

HEDIS MY 2021

1.05.2021 Utilization Measures & Enrollment by Product Line (ENP) Are members with unknown or third gender excluded from member months tables that only designate binary gender?

Yes. Members with unknown or non-binary gender are excluded from only the utilization measures that require a specific gender (male or female) and the ENP measure because this measure requires a gender to be assigned in the reporting tables. NCQA continues to track industry standards for non-binary gender.

*Originally posted on 11/16/2020, this FAQ was updated on 1/5/2021.

HEDIS MY 2021

12.15.2020 Use of Opioids at High Dosage (HDO) The MLD Update Memo stated, “Add Acetaminophen Hydrocodone 7.5 MGPML Medications List to the Medication Lists column and 7.5 mg per mL to the Strength column.” However, this medication list is not included in the MLD (the MLD contains an Acetaminophen Hydrocodone 7.5 mg Medications List).

The MLD content is correct; the item in the MLD Update memo contains an error. Organizations should “Add Acetaminophen Hydrocodone 7.5 mg Medications List to the Medication Lists column and 7.5 mg to the Strength column.”

HEDIS MY 2021

12.15.2020 Transitions of Care (TRC) Where in IDSS should supplemental data be reported when it is used for the Notification of Inpatient Admission and Receipt of Discharge Information indicators?

Supplemental data for Notification of Inpatient Admission and Receipt of Discharge Information indicators must be reported in the “Numerator events by supplemental data” data element in IDSS.

HEDIS MY 2021