FAQ Directory: Health Plan Accreditation

Because of the complexities of the workbook formulas, we are unable to change the workbook to accept “NA” in time for 2019 Standards Year surveys. To correctly calculate the notification date scoring, a date must be entered in this field.
NCQA will not require organizations to provide documentation of the decision date and will instruct surveyors to enter the earliest of

1. The written notification date(s), or
2. The verbal notification date(s) (if applicable).

Regardless of the score calculated for decision date,

1. Surveyors will not score 30 files for this factor (although if it is necessary to review 30 files for the notification date, surveyors may need to complete this field, as described above for additional files).
2. Surveyors will score the element NA in IRT.

HP 2019

An “NA” score for UM 5, Elements, A, C and E will not affect the review of UM 5, Element G: UM Timeliness Report. However, NCQA still requires organizations to monitor and submit a report of timeliness of decision making and notification of decisions for UM 5, Element G.

HP 2019

No. The “Explanation” and the “Related information” sections of UM 5, Elements A, C and E still apply to UM 5, Elements B, D and F, respectively. All applicable information was moved to the relevant elements for HPA 2020.

HP 2019

For ME 5, Element C, NCQA reviews the organization’s data collection methodology. This may be in policies and procedures or described as part of the organization’s reports. NCQA also reviews the organization’s most recent assessment and actions reports completed at least once during the look-back period. 

Similarly, for ME 6, Element C, NCQA reviews the organization’s data collection methodology. This may be in policies and procedures or described as part of the organization’s reports. NCQA also reviews the organization’s annual evaluation report and improvement of identified deficiencies.

HP 2020

For MEM 2, Element C, NCQA reviews the organization’s data collection methodology. This may be in policies and procedures or described as part of the organization’s reports. NCQA also reviews the organization’s most recent assessment and actions reports completed at least once during the look-back period.
Similarly, for MEM 3, Element C, NCQA reviews the organization’s data collection methodology. This may be in policies and procedures or described as part of the organization’s reports. NCQA also reviews the organization’s annual evaluation report and improvement of identified deficiencies.

HP 2019

The organization does not need to have value-based payments for every month of the look-back period. It reports:

• As the numerator: The value-based payments made during the look-back period, and
• As the denominator: All payments (including fee-for-service) made during the entire look-back period.

For example, the denominator is 12 months of all payments, but if there are 3 months of value-based payments in the look-back period, the numerator is the 3 months of value-based payments.

HP 2019

Referencing benefit documents such as the member handbook or Certificate of Coverage by title alone is not specific enough to meet the requirement. Because benefit documents are often large and complex, the organization must direct members to the specific location of the information, either by section title or page number.

The reference must still support the organization’s decision and relate to the reason for the request

HP 2019

No. The organization is not required to include all these areas in its analysis, but at a minimum, must evaluate rates of unplanned admissions to facilities and emergency room visits to identify areas for improvement.

HP 2019

No. As a general rule, examples should be used as a guide. Examples of questions for PHM 5, Element F that are not prescriptive, but address each requirement listed in the Explanation, include:

1.  How satisfied are you with the information provided about the overall case management program?

2.  How would you rate your experience with the case manager overall? With the program staff?

3.  Did the case manager and other program staff treat you with courtesy and respect?

4. Was the information provided to you useful?

5. How well were you able to follow the recommendations provided to you by the case manager?

6. Were you able to achieve your health goals in your case management plan?

HP 2019

Factors 7-13 should be scored as “Met” for upheld denials sent to MAXIMUS.

HP 2018

Yes. The organization may send a single letter to the member and practitioner that includes the specific reason for the denial, in language that would be easily understood by the member. The letter may also include, in a separate section, additional clinical or technical language directed toward a practitioner.

When NCQA reviews the letter to ascertain if the reason for the denial would be easy for the member to understand, it considers both the written reason and the context of the language and whether the information can be understood in context.
 

HP 2019

NCQA considers the implementation date as the date when the delegate can start performing delegated activities. But because the organization and delegate may have mutually agreed on and implemented delegated activities before signing the delegation agreement, NCQA is changing the policy for evidence of the implementation date.

When reviewing a delegation agreement, NCQA will consider the effective date or start date specified in the agreement as the mutually agreed-upon implementation date, for Element A (of the delegation standards), factor 1. This date may be before or after the signature date on the delegation agreement. If the agreement does not contain an effective date/start date, NCQA considers the date when the agreement was signed as the mutually agreed-upon implementation date.

NCQA may also accept other evidence of the implementation date: a letter, meeting minutes or other form of communication between the organization and the delegate that references their agreement on the delegated activity start date.

If an organization references the effective date/start date of the delegation agreement as the implementation date, NCQA will require submitted evidence for all other delegation factors to conform to that date as the implementation date.

The language in the explanation will be updated in a future Policy Update for applicable 2019 publications.

HP 2019