FAQ Directory

NCQA CVO Certification is designed to ensure organizations can maintain a high-quality network for members and contracted clients. The standards provide a framework for adopting industry best practices to promote accurate and efficient verification of practitioner credentials—ensuring that medical organizations employ qualified professionals and align with state requirements.

CVO

NCQA CVO Certification evaluates the operations of organizations that verify practitioner credentials. Verification is accomplished through the primary source, through a recognized source or through a contracted agent of the primary source.

CVO 2016

The typical evaluation timeframe, from application submission to decision, is 12 months. This depends on the organization’s readiness, as some organizations may already be working within NCQA guidelines.

CVO

• Use the NCQA Health Plan Accreditation standards to perform a gap analysis and determine improvement areas. They provide a framework for implementing evidence-based, best practices help plans improve in areas of:
  • QI process.
  • Population health management.
  • Practitioner network and access to care.
  • Utilization management processes.
  • Credentialing and recredentialing processes.
  • Members’ rights and responsibilities.
  • Member connection.
  • Medicaid service requirements.
• Satisfy state requirements and employer needs. The standards align with many state requirements.

HP 2020

NCQA LTSS Distinction for Health Plans is a complementary program designed to support health plans coordinating LTSS. The program standards provide a framework for organizations to deliver efficient, effective person-centered care that meets people’s needs, helps keep people in their preferred setting and aligns with state requirements.

HP 2020

• Accreditation Process and Timeline: Key steps, timing and resources for a successful accreditation.
• Standards and Guidelines: The complete standards and guidelines, including the intent and scope of review.
• Interactive Survey Tool: Contains the complete standards and guidelines; you can also determine your organization’s survey readiness—the tool calculates your potential survey score.

MBHO 2019

NCQA standards are a roadmap for improvement—organizations use them to perform a gap analysis and align improvement activities with areas that are most important to states and employers, such as network adequacy and consumer protection. Standards help plans in:

• Quality Management and Improvement.
• Population Health Management.
• Network Management.
• Utilization Management.
• Credentialing and Recredentialing.
• Members’ Rights and Responsibilities.
• Member Connections.
• Medicaid Benefits and Services.

HP 2020

NCQA Health Plan Accreditation is the most widely recognized, evidence-based program in the industry dedicated to quality improvement and measurement. It provides a comprehensive framework for organizations to align and improve operations in areas that are most important to states, employers and consumers. It’s the only evaluation program that bases results on actual measurement of clinical performance (i.e., HEDIS measures) and consumer experience (i.e., CAHPS measures).

HP 2020

The typical evaluation time frame is 12 months from application submission to decision, depending on an organization’s readiness. Some organizations may already be working within NCQA guidelines.

HP 2020

Any organization that provides managed health care services may apply for the NCQA Health Plan Accreditation if it meets the following criteria:

• Operates under an insurance license (e.g., HMO, POS, PPO, EPO), and
• Issues a contract for insurance for a defined population or contracts with an employer to provide managed care services for a self-insured population, and
• Provides services through an organized delivery system that includes ambulatory and inpatient health care sites, and
• Performs functions addressed in the standards (quality improvement, care coordination, utilization management, credentialing, member rights and responsibilities), either directly or through a service agreement, and
• Has a process for monitoring, evaluating and improving the quality and safety of care provided to its members, and
• Reports audited HEDIS results for designated HEDIS measures and CAHPS ratings and composites, as required for the selected Evaluation Option.

HP 2020

The standards, provide a framework for implementing best practices to improve:

• Quality Management and Improvement: Monitor, evaluate and improve the quality and safety of care.
• Care Coordination: Coordinate medical care and behavioral healthcare for its members.
• Utilization Management: Notifies members and practitioners about coverage decisions within required time frames.
• Credentialing and Recredentialing: Verifies the credentials of the practitioners in its network.

• Members’ Rights and Responsibilities: Written members’ rights and responsibilities policy exist.

To see the program requirement details, get the Standards & Guidelines document.

MBHO 2019

Pricing is based on multiple factors. Obtain full pricing information by submitting a request through My NCQA.

HP 2020