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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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12.15.2022 Sampling Guidelines—Multiple Measures using a common sample If members are deceased are they removed from all measures that use the same sample?

Yes. If multiple measures use the same sample, a deceased member is removed from all related samples. For example, deceased members who are removed from the Childhood Immunization (CIS) sample would also be removed from the Lead Screening (LSC) sample. Similarly, deceased members who are removed from the Hemoglobin A1c Control for Patients With Diabetes (HBD) sample would also be removed from Blood Pressure Control for Patients With Diabetes (BPD) and Eye Exam for Patients With Diabetes (EED) samples. This FAQ was previously posted in November 2022 and was updated to remove the reference to the KED measure.

HEDIS 2022

12.15.2022 General Guideline 28 and International Normalized Ratio Monitoring for Individuals on Warfarin (INR) Should organizations use laboratory claims and data for the INR Test Value Set in the International Normalized Ratio Monitoring for Individuals on Warfarin Pharmacy Quality Alliance measure?

Yes. Although LOINC codes were removed from the INR Test Value Set, organizations should use laboratory claims and data for this value set, in addition to medical claims. This value set should be listed in General Guideline 28 with other value sets that do not contain LOINC codes.

Exchange 2023

11.16.2022 General Guideline 28: Identifying Events/Diagnoses Using Laboratory or Pharmacy Data Should organizations use laboratory claims and data for the Drug Test Value Set in the Annual Monitoring for Persons on Long-Term Opioid Therapy Pharmacy Quality Alliance measure?

Yes. Although LOINC codes were removed from the Drug Test Value Set, organizations should use laboratory claims and data for this value set. This value set should be listed in General Guideline 28 with the other value sets that do not contain LOINC codes but should use laboratory claims and data.

**This FAQ applies to QRS MY 2022.

Exchange 2022

11.15.2022 Depression Screening and Follow-Up for Adolescents and Adults (DSF-E) and Unhealthy Alcohol Use Screening and Follow-Up (ASF-E) In the data elements reporting tables for Depression Screening and Follow-Up for Adolescents and Adults (DSF-E) and Unhealthy Alcohol Use Screening and Follow-Up (ASF-E), the reporting instructions for the initial population and exclusions data elements state, “For each Metric and Stratification.” However, these measures have the same initial population and exclusions reported for each metric. Should the reporting instructions state “For each stratification, repeat per metric”?

Yes. The reporting instructions for the initial population and exclusions data elements for ASF-E and DSF-E for MY 2022 and MY 2023 are incorrect. The reporting instructions should state, “For each stratification, repeat per metric” for the initial population and exclusions data elements. Refer to the PDF  for the corrected data elements tables.
Note: The information is correct in IDSS (the validations check "For each stratification, repeat per metric” for the initial population and exclusions data elements).

 

**This FAQ applies to both HEDIS Volume 2 MY 2022 and HEDIS Volume 2 MY 2023

HEDIS 2022

11.15.2022 Lead Screening in Children (LSC) In the MY 2022 specifications for Lead Screening in Children (LSC), there are data elements for ExclusionAdminOptional and ExclusionMedRecsOptional. This measure does not have optional exclusions. Are these data elements in error?

Yes. The data elements for “ExclusionAdminOptional” and “ExclusionMedRecsOptional” are not reported for MY 2022. These data elements and reporting instructions should be removed from Table LSC-1: Data Elements for Lead Screening in Children.

HEDIS 2022

10.15.2022 MBHO: Mail Service Organization Delegates Are any delegation oversight factors considered not applicable for organizations that use a mail service organization delegate to meet distribution requirements (per a July 15, 2021 FAQ)?

Yes. Using UM 12: Delegation of UM as an example, the following describes factors that would be considered NA:
UM 12, Element A: Delegation Agreement

  • Factor 3 (semiannual reporting): This factor is NA for mail service organization delegates that only perform annual distribution
    • Note: Factor 4 (performance monitoring): Annual distribution must be specified as part of the organization’s process for monitoring delegate performance.
    • Factor 3 is not scored NA for distribution that occurs more frequently than annually (e.g., denial and appeal notices).
  • Factor 5 (process for providing member experience and clinical performance data to delegates when requested): This factor is NA for mail service organization delegates.

UM 12, Element C: Review of the UM Program

  • Factor 1 (annual review of delegate’s UM program): This factor is NA for mail service organization delegates
  • Factor 4 (semiannual evaluation of reports): This factor is NA for mail service organization delegates that only perform annual distribution.
    • Factor 4 is not scored NA for distribution that occurs more frequently than annually (e.g., denial and appeal notices).

Note: Factor 2 (annual audits): This factor is not scored NA, but the organization may submit the delegate’s timeliness report of mail distribution in lieu of an audit. This must be specified in the delegation agreement.

MBHO 2022

10.15.2022 Mail Service Organization Delegates Are any delegation oversight factors considered not applicable for organizations that use a mail service organization delegate to meet distribution requirements (per a July 15, 2021 FAQ)?

Yes. Using UM 13: Delegation of UM as an example, the following describes factors that would be considered NA:
UM 13, Element A: Delegation Agreement

  • Factor 3 (semiannual reporting): This factor is NA for mail service organization delegates that only perform annual distribution (e.g., UM 11, Element B (annual updates for pharmaceutical restrictions/preferences).
    • Note: Factor 4 (performance monitoring): Annual distribution must be specified as part of the organization’s process for monitoring delegate performance, if applicable.
    • Factor 3 is not scored NA for distribution that occurs more frequently than annually (e.g., denial and appeal notices).
  • Factor 5 (process for providing member experience and clinical performance data to delegates when requested): This factor is NA for mail service organization delegates.

UM 13, Element C: Review of the UM Program

  • Factor 1 (annual review of delegate’s UM program): This factor is NA for mail service organization delegates.
  • Factor 4 (semiannual evaluation of reports): This factor is NA for mail service organization delegates that only perform annual distribution.
    • Factor 4 is not scored NA for distribution that occurs more frequently than annually (e.g., denial and appeal notices).

Note: Factor 2 (annual audits): This factor is not scored NA, but the organization may submit the delegate’s timeliness report of mail distribution in lieu of an audit. This must be specified in the delegation agreement.
 

HP 2023

10.14.2022 Statin Therapy for Patients With Cardiovascular Disease (SPC) and Statin Therapy for Patients With Diabetes (SPD) Should we exclude members with a history of allergies or intolerance to statins (including to the PCSK-9 inhibitor) from the SPC and SPD measures?

The Statin Therapy for Patients With Cardiovascular Disease (SPC) and Statin Therapy for Patients With Diabetes (SPD) measures include an exclusion for members with myalgia, myositis, myopathy or rhabdomyolysis during the measurement year. However, an allergy or history of an intolerance to a statin medication is not considered an exclusion for the measure.  
The general guidance NCQA received from our experts, as well as guidance from the American College of Cardiology , is that patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease should be rechallenged on lower statin doses and alternative statins before being put on non-statin therapies (e.g., PCSK-9 inhibitors) due to statin intolerance. The decision-making process might vary from case to case. Although we incorporated exclusions for muscle-related statin side effects, we acknowledge that the measure may not address all instances of true statin intolerance. We will consider all feedback on this issue, while also ensuring that changes to the measure are valid, scientifically sound and true to the measure's intent (to measure the quality of cardiovascular care provided at the population level).

HEDIS 2022

10.14.2022 General Guideline 16: Deceased Members The deceased member exclusion is now required for MY 2023. The last bullet in the Notes section states, “This is a member-level exclusion. For episode-based measures, if one event does not meet numerator criteria, remove all member events/episodes from the measure.”
Does this mean that for episode-based measures that if one event meets numerator criteria the member can remain in the measure?

No. Members who die during the measurement year must be removed from all applicable measures. For episode-based measures, a member who died during the measurement year must be removed for all events (even if they meet numerator criteria for an event).

HEDIS 2023

9.15.2022 Quality Compass License Agreement How can we determine if the Quality Compass license agreement meets my needs?

The standard license agreement for Quality Compass allows internal or external reporting for 15 measure indicators, 20 health plan submissions and 2 benchmarks (averages and/or percentiles) outside of the users licensed on the account. If your organization’s expected data usage does not align with the standard agreement, we can review your requested permissions and draft a customized agreement, subject to a different fee structure.
 

HEDIS 2021

9.15.2022 Quality Compass Data Extract What if I only need access to a subset of the data from Quality Compass? Can I obtain a data extract?

If you do not need access to all the data results available within Quality Compass, you can request a custom data extract. Pricing for data extracts start at $2,500 and are determined by the amount of data requested and the client’s use case.

You can obtain a custom quote by reaching out to the Information Products team and completing a data request form that details your data needs and requested permissions.
 

HEDIS 2021

9.15.2022 Quality Compass Access When will I receive access to Quality Compass?

Access to the data is granted as soon as payment is received by check or credit card.

The default email address used for access will be the individual’s whose information was included under the “Ship To” section completed at checkout Login and password information will be emailed to the default user after NCQA sets up the account. The default user, also known as the Administrative User, will have access to manage the additional licensed users on the account.

 

HEDIS 2021