FAQ Directory: Health Plan Accreditation

Value-Based Payment Requirement for PHM 3, Element B

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

Citing a benefit provision

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

LTSS 4, Element C: Analysis of Unplanned transitions

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

PHM 5, Element F: Aligning the examples with the factor explanation

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

UM 8, Element A MAXIMUS

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

HP 2018

Language in denial letters

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

Mutually Agreed-Upon Dates in the Delegation Contract

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

80% must-pass threshold for UM elements

No. To keep scoring simple, NCQA set a threshold of 80% or higher for all UM must-pass elements, rather than setting a specific threshold for each element based on its scoring options. If an element does not have an 80% option, the “or higher” applies. Keep in mind that an organization may miss the requirements for a few files and still score 100% on the element. For additional information on file review scoring, refer to the scoring table in each element or to the file review worksheet in the Interactive Review Tool (IRT).

HP 2019

Life-planning activities for Complex Case Management (CCM) Policies and Assessment

No. After consideration, NCQA removed the requirement for case managers to address life-planning activities at the start of the initial assessment (first contact). This FAQ replaces the previous FAQ issued on October 15, 2017 (which has been deleted) regarding first contact, and the workbook has been adjusted to accommodate the change.

HP 2019

Data collection for prevention programs for behavioral healthcare for QI 6, Element A, factor 5

No. Element A does not require organizations to implement a preventive behavioral healthcare program. The intent of factor 5 is that organizations collect data to determine if there are behavioral health issues that could be prevented if a program were to be implemented. Organizations collect data to meet Element A. Identifying the opportunity for such a program and implementing it is applicable to Element B.

HP 2019

Level of Analysis Required for Appointment Accessibility

No. NCQA does not require the analysis to be stratified by practitioner type.

HP 2019

Revised Look-back Period for UM 7, Elements C, F, I (factors 2 and 3)

The intent of the added language in factors 2 and 3 was to clarify the minimum information required for expedited appeals. NCQA recognizes these are new requirements, and for this reason, has added the following language to the scope of review:

Organizations must implement the changes in factors 2 and 3 for files processed on or after 11/1/18.

NCQA will post an update in December for the 2019 HP publication to reflect this change.

HP 2019