FAQ Directory: HEDIS

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9.15.2022 Social Need Screening and Intervention (SNS-E) For SNS-E, are organizations allowed to count screenings that were conducted using adapted or translated versions of screening instruments?

As an ECDS-reported measure, the SNS-E screening numerator counts only screenings that use instruments in the measure specification as identified by the associated LOINC code(s). Allowed screening instruments and LOINC codes for each social need domain are listed in “Definitions” in the measure specification.

NCQA recognizes that organizations might need to adapt or modify instruments to meet the needs of their membership. To clarify:

  • The SNS-E measure specification does not prohibit cultural adaptations or linguistic translations from being counted toward the measure’s screening numerators.
  • Only screenings documented using the LOINC codes specified in the SNS-E measure count toward the measure’s screening numerators.
  • The Regenstrief Institute, which maintains the LOINC database, has indicated that LOINC codes do not distinguish between adapted and translated instruments.
  • Tool developers have varying policies with regard to cultural adaptation and translations; some state that users may adapt screening instruments, others state that organizations must obtain permission first.

NCQA urges organizations to refer to the tool developer for information about adaptations or translations that are available or allowed.

HEDIS MY 2023

9.15.2022 Difference Between HPR and Quality Compass How are HPR and Quality Compass different?

Quality Compass is NCQA’s interactive database containing individual plan performance results for HEDIS® and CAHPS® measures, as well as benchmark data at the national, regional (Census, HHS) and state levels. It reports individual plan data from plans that chose to publicly report their performance results. Benchmark results comprise all plan data submitted to NCQA, regardless of reporting status.
NCQA Health Plan Ratings (HPR) is a separate method of evaluating and distributing information related to health plan quality and performance. It assesses and reports plan performance in several domains. The goal of HPR is to give plans a scale to assess their current operating status, to help ensure quality. HPR provides consumers with information that helps them select a high-quality health plan that suits their needs.
NCQA’s Health Plan Ratings 2022 assesses commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid health plans. The overall rating is the weighted average of a plan’s HEDIS® and CAHPS® measure ratings, plus bonus points for plans with a current Accreditation status. Please visit our HPR website (https://www.ncqa.org/hedis/reports-and-research/ncqas-health-plan-ratings-2022/) to learn more.
 

HEDIS MY 2021

9.15.2022 Audit Timeline The HEDIS MY 2022 Audit Timeline posted on NCQA’s website states that organizations must submit all documentation, including Sections 5 and 5a of the Roadmap, by March 1. Does this mean that organizations have until March 1 to submit Sections 5 and 5a?

No. The Roadmap is due January 31. All sections must be submitted by this date. The “March 1” date for Sections 5 and 5a is meant to account for the rare occasion where a supplemental data source is identified after the January 31 deadline and must be considered for audit. These sources must be identified no later than March 1, with a completed Roadmap section. This should be the exception, not the standard process.

HEDIS MY 2022

8.15.2022 Individual Plan Data - Quality Compass What are the “individual plan data” available on Quality Compass?

Individual plan data are the HEDIS and CAHPS performance rates submitted by health plans that chose to publicly report their results to NCQA. Users have access to all publicly reported plans in a specific product line (commercial, Medicaid, Medicare) and can easily select a subset of plans based on coverage in different regions/states.
 

HEDIS MY 2022

8.15.2022 Quality Compass: Data Exporter What is the Data Exporter feature on Quality Compass?

All versions of Quality Compass allow users to build customized reports within the tool. Versions of Quality Compass that include the Data Exporter feature allows users to download and export those custom reports into Microsoft Excel.

The Data Exporter feature also grants access to the “All Measures Download” file. This file contains plan-level performance data for all publicly reported health plan submissions and all HEDIS and CAHPS measure results in a single downloadable file. Versions purchased without Data Exporter will not have the ability to export plan level data but will still have access to Excel versions of the benchmarks.
 

HEDIS MY 2022

5.16.2022 MY 2022 Technical Update – COL-E Measure In the updated version of the COL-E measure that was re-released in the MY 2022 Technical Update, the “Total” data element listed in the age column is not highlighted in Table COL-E-A-3: Data Elements for Colorectal Cancer Screening. Should this cell be highlighted?

Yes. The cell should be highlighted to indicate that it is calculated by IDSS.

HEDIS MY 2022

4.15.2022 Data Aggregator Validation (DAV) Data for ECDS Reporting Can validated DAV data streams be used for ECDS reporting? If yes, how should they be categorized (which SSoR)?

Yes. If validated DAV streams are used, they should be categorized as HIE/clinical registry data sources.

HEDIS MY 2021

4.15.2022 Data Aggregator Validation (DAV) Data for ECDS Reporting Can validated DAV data streams be used for ECDS reporting? If yes, how should they be categorized (which SSoR)?

Yes. If validated DAV streams are used, they should be categorized as HIE/clinical registry data sources.

HEDIS MY 2022

4.15.2022 Initiation and Engagement of Substance Use Disorder Treatment (IET) Should denominator episodes be deduplicated to one per day? For example, if a member has two outpatient visits with an SUD diagnosis on the same date of service (with different providers), is it one denominator episode or two?

Deduplicate denominator episodes to one per day. Two eligible SUD encounters on the same date of service count as one denominator episode.  

HEDIS MY 2022

2.15.2022 COVID-19 Is HEDIS changing data collection strategies for HEDIS MY 2021 due to COVID?

NCQA continues to monitor the impact of COVID on communities and at this time has no plans to modify data collection methods and reporting deadlines.

HEDIS MY 2021

2.15.2022 Guidelines for Calculations and Sampling: Hybrid Measures When reducing sample sizes for measures with stratifications, which are used: the total rates or the stratified rates?

For measures with stratifications, use the total rate when reducing sample sizes. For measures with multiple indicators and stratifications, use the lowest total rate across indicators when reducing sample sizes.

HEDIS MY 2021

2.15.2022 Cervical Cancer Screening (CCS) For cervical cancer screening, should we exclude transgender women (male to female, never had a cervix)?

Administrative data, codes in the Absence of Cervix Diagnosis Value Set (e.g., ICD-10-CM Diagnosis code Q51.5 [agenesis and aplasia of cervix]) may be used to exclude transgender members from the measure. If the medical record documents that the member was born male (e.g., transgender male to female), this is evidence that the member does not have a cervix, meets optional exclusion criteria and may be removed from the measure. Medical record documentation of cervical agenesis or clinical synonyms (e.g., evidence a patient was born without a cervix) may also be used to exclude these members. These members should remain in the measure if the organization is unable to find the appropriate documentation.

HEDIS MY 2021