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.
Communicate timeline changes and processes to staff; to your network of providers; to leadership at your plan; to medical record and copy vendors; and to your software vendor. Develop a plan and prepare with adequate resources for the HEDIS season. Add HEDIS performance guarantees with vendors to ensure clear understanding of goals and timelines.
HEDIS 2013
"Inclusive" means the IESD is day 1 in the 14-day count for the Initiation of AOD Treatment indicator. The time frame for initiation is the IESD and the next 13 days, for a total of 14 days. For example, if a members IESD was an outpatient visit on August 1, the initiation visit must occur on or between August 1 through August 14.
HEDIS 2013
"Inclusive" means that the initiation visit is included when determining compliance for the Engagement of AOD Treatment indicator; therefore, the initiation visit is day 1 in the 30-day count. "After" means that the two additional visits must occur after the date of the initiation encounter. For example, if a members initiation visit occurred on August 1, the engagement visits must occur on August 2 through August 30.
HEDIS 2013
No. If the MRR processwhich includes training, tools, interrater reliability checks, rater-to-standard tests and any other quality control processis different by plan, product or product line, the auditor must conduct separate MRRV for each process by following the new validation steps.
HEDIS 2013
Yes. For HEDIS 2013, NCQA will enforce a medical record review deadline of May 15 (the previous deadline was May 10). No charts will be accepted past this deadline, when auditors will begin to review records. Holding all plans to the same timeline ensures comparability among submissions.
HEDIS 2013
NCQA continually reviews the audit process to ensure that it meets all applicable reporting requirements and is the rigorous process expected by all stakeholders.
Responding to increasing pressure from incentive programs, and with CMS input, over the past year NCQA developed the audit policy described in the June 19 MRRV memo. This change will make a more exacting process that ensures enough time for auditing and reporting valid results.
HEDIS 2013
No. If a member does not have creditable coverage, or does not have enough coverage to offset the entire pre-existing condition exclusionary period, the denial is not considered a medical necessity determination and should not be included in the UM denial file review. However, the denial may be appealed, and should be included in the appeal file review.
A member who cannot be located or communicated with after three or more attempts over a 2-week period may be excluded from complex case management, and the file may be excluded from review. The organization must document attempts to contact the member by various mechanisms (telephone, letter, e-mail or fax) and through authorized caregiver channels.
No. A fill date from the previous measurement year is not included in current measurement year calculations. The text on page 180 of the MY 2011 P4P publication, under Index prescription date (IPD), should read [the IPD is the] first fill date during the measurement year. The member in your example is ineligible because the first fill date does not occur in the current measurement year.
