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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5.29.2018 QI 02B Are preventive care measures considered utilization measures?

No. Although effective preventive care can reduce future health care costs, preventive care measures address quality of care and are not utilization measures. Utilization measures address direct health care savings, in accordance with evidence-based guidelines.

PCMH 2017

5.29.2018 CC 08 Are practices required to only refer to specialists with whom they have agreements, or is the requirement that an agreement be in place? Give an example of an agreement.

Practices are not restricted to referring patients only to practices with whom they have established agreements. NCQA reviews at least one example of a formal or informal agreement with a subset of specialists, but does not expect practices to have agreements with all specialists to whom they refer patients. The goal is that expectations are outlined in the agreement, in addition to expectations of timeliness/content of response from specialists.
 

PCMH 2017

5.29.2018 CC 08 Our practice is part of an integrated health system. Do we need to show agreements between primary care providers and specialists?

Yes. Practices must have an agreement or documented process outlining the responsibilities of the referring provider and the specialist, even in an integrated system. It is essential that each provider understands the expectations and responsibilities of the referral, including the frequency and methods of communication.
 

PCMH 2017

5.29.2018 QI 08 May “improve performance” be a stated performance goal?

No. The performance goal must be quantified (e.g., a number or percentage signifying a specific performance level).

PCMH 2017

5.29.2018 QI 11 May practices focus on improving results of a specific question in a patient experience survey?

Yes. Practices determine the area of patient experience on which to focus quality improvement efforts. This may be improvement of the results of a specific question on a survey, a section of a survey or the entire survey.

PCMH 2017

5.29.2018 QI 05 How can practices stratify data for vulnerable populations?

Practices select a vulnerable population for measurement using fields that are available in their practice system. Practices may use categories such as race, age, ethnicity, language needs, education, income, type of insurance, disability or health status to identify specific populations that may experience disparities in care.

PCMH 2017

5.29.2018 QI 06 Is CAHPS a requirement for this measure?

No. Any standardized (non-proprietary) survey administered through measurement initiatives providing benchmark analysis external to the practice organization may be used to meet QI 06. Please note that the practice must administer the entire standardized survey (not just sections) so that it can be compared to available benchmarks.

PCMH 2017

5.29.2018 QI 04A How many patients are practices required to survey?

NCQA does not prescribe a sample size or frequency of surveying; however, the survey must represent the entire patient population and not focus on specific conditions or patient groups

PCMH 2017

5.29.2018 QI 04 Can the practice choose to show reports from either quantitative data or qualitative data?

No. The practice needs to demonstrate that they collect both quantitative and qualitative data to meet the requirement.

PCMH 2017

5.29.2018 CC 21C How do practices demonstrate capability for electronic exchange of key clinical information with facilities?

There must be interconnectivity between the practice and facilities to exchange clinical information. The practice can demonstrate CC 21C via demonstration of the capability of the certified EHR to exchange clinical information.
 

PCMH 2017

5.29.2018 CC 14 Do hospitalization and ED visit data from the health plan meet the requirements of this criterion?

A practice may use health plan data to identify patients if it is provided at least weekly and if at least 75 percent of the patient population is represented by the health plan. The practice may use data from more than one health plan as long as the plans collectively represent at least 75 percent of the practice population.
 

PCMH 2017

5.29.2018 QI 15 May a practice with one clinician provide the same evidence for both clinicians and staff in QI 15?

Yes. Because the practice has only one clinician, practice-level data would be the same as clinician-level data, and therefore count for both.

PCMH 2017