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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12.15.2020 Corrective Action Plan Question: What is the corrective action process for organizations that do not meet a must-pass element?

A Corrective Action Plan (CAP) is required when an organization does not meet the minimum threshold for one or more must-pass elements. The CAP must be submitted to NCQA within 30 days after receipt of the final Accreditation status and must meet NCQA approval. The organization undergoes a CAP Survey that focuses on the failed must-pass elements (not at the factor level), i.e., all element factors, will be reviewed in addition to the factor(s) that failed the must-pass requirement.
NCQA schedules the CAP Survey for submission 6 months following the organization’s last full survey; the file review is 4 weeks later. The organization’s Accreditation status is noted “Under Corrective Action” status modifier noted on the report card during the corrective action period.
The fees for the CAP Survey can be found in the Pricing Exhibit on My NCQA. The look-back period is from the date of implementation of the corrective action up to the CAP Survey submission date and may be between 3 and 6 months before the CAP Survey submission.
After successful completion of the CAP Survey, the status modifier is removed from the organization’s status on the report card. The expiration date of the Accreditation status remains the same as the date specified in the decision that precipitated the CAP Survey. If a CAP Survey is unsuccessful, the Review Oversight Committee (ROC) may:

  • Extend the CAP status modifier, or
  • Reduce the organization’s status from Accredited to Provisional or from Provisional to Denied, or
  • Issue a Denied Accreditation status.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
UM-CR-PN 2020, 2021, 2019

12.15.2020 Corrective Action Process What is the corrective action process for organizations that do not meet a must-pass element?

A Corrective Action Plan (CAP) is required when an organization does not meet the minimum threshold for one or more must-pass elements. The CAP must be submitted to NCQA within 30 days after receipt of the final Accreditation status and must meet NCQA approval. The organization undergoes a CAP Survey that focuses on the failed must-pass elements (not at the factor level), i.e., all element factors, will be reviewed in addition to the factor(s) that failed the must-pass requirement.
NCQA schedules the CAP Survey for submission 6 months following the organization’s last full survey; the file review is 4 weeks later. The organization’s Accreditation status is noted “Under Corrective Action” status modifier noted on the report card during the corrective action period.
The fees for the CAP Survey can be found in the Pricing Exhibit on My NCQA. The look-back period is from the date of implementation of the corrective action up to the CAP Survey submission date and may be between 3 and 6 months before the CAP Survey submission.
After successful completion of the CAP Survey, the status modifier is removed from the organization’s status on the report card. The expiration date of the Accreditation status remains the same as the date specified in the decision that precipitated the CAP Survey. If a CAP Survey is unsuccessful, the Review Oversight Committee (ROC) may:

  • Extend the CAP status modifier, or
  • Reduce the organization’s status from Accredited to Provisional or from Provisional to Denied, or
  • Issue a Denied Accreditation status.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HP 2021, 2019, 2020|MBHO 2020, 2021, 2019

12.15.2020 Appropriate Testing for Pharyngitis (CWP) Is the denominator for the measure based on episodes or members?

The denominator is based on episodes, not on members. Add the following Note to the event/diagnosis after step 7:
Note: The denominator for this measure is based on episodes, not on members. All eligible episodes that were not excluded remain in the denominator.

**This FAQ applies to QRS MY 2020.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
Exchange MY

12.15.2020 Use of Imaging Studies for Low Back Pain (LBP) Is a history of a kidney transplant a required exclusion for the measure?

Yes. In the seventh bullet of step 4 of the event/diagnosis, replace the seventh bullet with:
Major organ transplant. Major organ transplant (Organ Transplant Other Than Kidney Value Set; Kidney Transplant Value Set; History of Kidney Transplant Value Set) any time in the member’s history through 28 days after the IESD.

**This FAQ applies to QRS MY 2020.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
Exchange MY

11.16.2020 Emergency Department Utilization (EDU) Will the EDU measure be publicly reported in MY 2020?

No. The EDU measure was given first-year status for MY 2020 due to significant changes, including exclusion of high-frequency utilizers.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HEDIS MY 2020, 2021

11.16.2020 Transition of Care (TRC) For the Medication Reconciliation Post-Discharge indicator, documentation of the current medications with evidence that the member was seen for post-discharge hospital follow-up with evidence of medication reconciliation or review meets criteria. Does documentation of a post-op/surgery follow-up visit, without reference to the hospital stay, count as evidence that the provider is aware of the hospitalization?

No. Documentation of “post-op/surgery follow-up” without a reference to “hospitalization,” “admission” or “inpatient stay” does not imply there was a hospitalization and is not considered evidence that the provider was aware of the hospitalization.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HEDIS MY 2020, 2021

11.16.2020 VSD for the Quality Rating System The same OID is listed for the Systolic Greater Than or Equal To 140 Value Set and the Systolic Less Than 140 Value Set in the QRS Value Set Directory. Is this correct?

No. The value set OID for the Systolic Greater Than or Equal To 140 in the QRS Value Set Directory is incorrect and should be changed to 2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1004.1242.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
Exchange MY

11.16.2020 Prenatal and Postpartum Care (PPC) Step 3 of the event/diagnosis states, “Determine if enrollment was continuous 43 days prior to delivery through 56 days after delivery, with no gaps.” Is this correct?

No. Replace this with, “Determine if enrollment was continuous 43 days prior to delivery through 60 days after delivery, with no gaps.”

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
Exchange MY

10.15.2020 Osteoporosis Screening in Older Women A dispensed dementia medication (Dementia Medications List) is listed as an exclusion in the eligible population. What time frame is required for the dispensing event?

The measure specification contains a formatting error and “A dispensed dementia medication (Dementia Medications List)” is intended to be a dash under the second bullet: “Any of the following during the measurement year or the year prior to the measurement year (count services that occur over both years).”

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HEDIS MY 2020, 2021

10.15.2020 Inclusion of Dental and Vision Denials and Appeals for UM File Review Should denials and appeals for dental and vision requests be included in the UM denial and appeal file review universes?

For all product lines, dental and vision requests covered under the organization's medical benefit are within the scope of medical necessity review and must be included for UM file review for denials (UM 4-7) and appeals (UM 9), as outlined in the file review instructions.
Dental and vision requests not covered under medical benefits are not within the scope of denial and appeal file review.

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HP 2021, 2020|MBHO 2020|UM-CR-PN 2020

9.15.2020 Childhood Immunization Status (CIS) Does the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) vaccination have to be given on the child’s second birthday?

Yes. The LAIV vaccination only counts if it is administered on the child’s second birthday. The minimum age for LAIV is 2 years, so vaccines given before that age do not meet criteria. You can view the recommendation guidelines on the CDC website (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-child-combined-schedule.pdf).

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HEDIS MY 2020, 2021

9.15.2020 Controlling High Blood Pressure (CBP) and Comprehensive Diabetes Care (CDC) Do BP readings taken by the member need to meet the member-reported requirements included in General Guideline 39?

No. BPs taken by the member do not need to meet requirements for member-reported data described in General Guideline 39 (collected by a PCP or other specialist while taking the patient’s history). If the BP result is documented in the member’s medical record, it may be used to assess numerator criteria if the BP does not meet any exclusion criteria (bullets at the bottom of page 157 and 195 in HEDIS MY 2020 and MY 2021 Volume 2).

This applies to the following Programs and Years:
HEDIS MY 2020, 2021