July 16, 2018
WASHINGTON, DC—The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is holding a public comment period to request feedback on proposed changes to the release date for the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®). Publishing measures and instructions in Volume 2: Technical Specifications for Health Plans on July 1 of the measurement year may not provide sufficient notice about the measures to the organizations reporting them. NCQA assessed the possibility of moving the release date earlier, and the trade-offs between potential release dates.
NCQA seeks public comment on the following proposals:
- Publish the specifications on July 1 before the measurement year.
- Publish the Technical Specifications Update on June 30 of the measurement year.
The proposed release dates give HEDIS users advance notice about measures and finalize specifications earlier. These proposals account for activities in which organizations are engaged when specifications are released; they allow timely revisions to measures and incorporation of first-quarter updates to codes.
This is an opportunity for health plans, purchasers and other stakeholders to weigh in on when HEDIS users receive information about HEDIS measures. Public comment begins at 12:00 PM (ET) on July 16 and ends at 11:59 PM (ET) on August 10.
About HEDIS and Public Comment
HEDIS comprises measures of clinical quality and patient experience that are based on published clinical guidelines and published scientific evidence. Public review and comment is an important part of the HEDIS process. NCQA reviews all comments received during public comment.
NCQA’s HEDIS measures do not constitute clinical practice guidelines and should not be used to determine insurance or coverage.
How to Participate in Public Comment
To read and comment on the proposed changes, visit the NCQA Public Comments page. The public comment period begins at 12:00 PM (ET) on July 16 and ends at 11:59 PM (ET) on August 10.