FAQ Directory: HEDIS

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 MY 2022

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 MY 2023

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 MY 2022

Currently each license is separated and there is no way to compare Commercial, Medicaid and Medicare in the same license. However, with the Data Exporter function, you will be able to pull reports in Microsoft Excel and that can make data comparison easier.
 

HEDIS MY 2021

The Medicare product line does not include CAHPS survey results. We recommend contacting Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) if you are interested in obtaining Medicare CAHPS data.

HEDIS MY 2021

Customers interested in accessing prior year data can choose to add up to three years of trended results to their Quality Compass purchase. For example, if you purchase Quality Compass 2022 (MY 2021), you can choose to add the trended data feature to access MY 2020 MY 2019 results.

It is important to note that not all data can be trended due to significant changes in the measure specifications. Quality Compass indicates when measures should be trended with caution or if there has been a break in trending and results should not be trended year-to-year. These trending determinations can be found on the Help tab within the Quality Compass tool or in the Volume 2 HEDIS technical specifications.

Access to the latest data year must be purchased annually.
 

HEDIS MY 2021

Quality Compass is priced according to the number of users, years of trended data, and whether your organization needs access to the Data Exporter feature. The cost breakdown is available on our pricing table on the NCQA Store .
 

HEDIS MY 2021

Purchase order numbers may be included for payment and tracking purposes; however, NCQA does not accept additional terms and conditions outside the executed legal agreement. Any and all purchase order terms and conditions have no legal effect and the license is governed solely by the terms of the executed agreement between your entity and NCQA.
 

HEDIS MY 2021

You can experience Quality Compass’ functionality by watching the demo videos available on the Quality Compass webpage (https://www.ncqa.org/programs/data-and-information-technology/data-purchase-and-licensing/quality-compass/). The demo videos walks viewers through some of the key features of Quality Compass as well as how to navigate the tool.

You can also request a walk-through live demo from the Information Products team. Please submit your request through your my.NCQA.org account or contact NCQA’s Customer Support team.
 

HEDIS MY 2022

You can find the standard guidelines and restrictions for data usage in Section 2 of the Quality Compass license agreement. This agreement in located on our website as well as on the NCQA store site, prior to any purchase of a license. If you expect your data usage to fall outside of the permissions set forth in the standard agreement, NCQA offers customized agreements to grant extended permissions and use cases, subject to a separate fee.

If you are unsure if your use case falls outside the standard license terms, submit your question via my.ncqa.org for further assistance.
 

HEDIS MY 2021

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

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