FAQ Directory: Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH)

Filter Results
  • Save

    Save your favorite pages and receive notifications whenever they’re updated.

    You will be prompted to log in to your NCQA account.

  • Email

    Share this page with a friend or colleague by Email.

    We do not share your information with third parties.

  • Print

    Print this page.

5.24.2018 KM 12 Are practices required to provide a separate letter, phone script or other method for each service needed?

No. Practices may demonstrate the same evidence if:

  • The same method of outreach is used for each service.
  • Practices demonstrate an example of the outreach used. 

Practices must provide information about how the letter, phone script or other method is modified for each service reminder. 

PCMH 2017

5.24.2018 KM 20 G What qualifies as an overuse or inappropriateness issue?

KM 20 G requires evidence-based guidelines on appropriate use of services, which could include a prompt at the point of care to consider appropriateness of laboratory test ordering, avoidance of MRI as a first-line diagnostic test for back pain, appropriateness of antibiotics use, or appropriateness of specific referrals. 

NCQA encourages practices to look at ABIM’s Choosing Wisely website for more information on overuse/appropriateness (www.choosingwisely.org).

PCMH 2017

5.24.2018 QI 02A May practices submit a measure for completed mammograms as a care coordination measure?

A measure evaluating completed mammograms qualifies as a care coordination measure if the practice is evaluating the rate of mammography results received (numerator) to mammography’s ordered (denominator). For QI 02A, NCQA wants to evaluate gaps in communication or coordination between members of the care team (providers and patients). Measuring the practice’s mammography rates does not meet the intent of a care coordination measure, but measuring timely receipt of results of a referral meets the intent.

PCMH 2017

5.24.2018 QI 01 Can a practice use a measure such as depression screenings to meet both QI 01B and QI 01D

No, a measure cannot be used twice even though it could fit under two categories.

PCMH 2017

5.24.2018 QI 01 B May practices use well-child visits for two different preventive care measures?

Practices may only count well-child visits for different age groups as distinct preventive care measures if the measures are aimed at assessing completion of age-specific screenings and tests (e.g. autism screen at 2-year check-up, adolescent depression screen), according to evidence-based guidelines. Assessing patient access to well visits for two different pediatric age groups would not be considered two different measures.

PCMH 2017

5.24.2018 QI 01 C Which patient populations meet the specified measures for category C?

Selection of chronic or acute care measures is determined by prevalent conditions identified by the practice and by evidence-based guidelines.

PCMH 2017

5.24.2018 CM 01C Does our practice meet the requirements if we use 65 years of age and older as the criterion for patients with poorly controlled or complex conditions?

No. Using only this age group does not meet the requirements. Identification of poorly controlled or complex patients can include older patients (e.g., >65 years) who also meet other high-risk criteria such as co-morbid conditions, frequent hospitalizations, mental health problems or frailty.

PCMH 2017

5.24.2018 QI 02 What do you mean by “resource stewardship”?

By resource stewardship, we mean ensuring responsible use of resources while providing high quality, efficient, patient-centered primary care as it relates measures affecting health care costs and care coordination.

PCMH 2017

5.24.2018 KM 16 May practices provide new prescription information only for medications relevant to a specific disease of interest?

No. The requirement to provide new information applies to all new medications prescribed to a patient, especially for patients identified in Concept CM as needing care management. Patients may have multiple comorbidities and medications, so it is crucial that they receive information about all medications prescribed to them

PCMH 2017

5.24.2018 QI 02A What are care coordination measures?

Measures of care coordination address communication regarding patient referrals and care transitions. 

For example, a practice refers a patient to another provider or a community resource. A care coordination measure might assess whether the referral was completed (i.e., the practice receives the referral report, follows up with the resource or patient to assess use or patient experience).

PCMH 2017

5.24.2018 KM 01 What kind of report is NCQA looking for as evidence, and what is the required reporting period

Practices should provide a report that demonstrates they update patient problem lists based on visits, transfer of information from other providers or information from the patient. As patient problem lists are expected to be updated at least annually, practices will want to monitor their rate on a periodic basis. Practices define the reporting period and frequency that allows meaningful evaluation of data.

PCMH 2017

5.24.2018 KM 12 A May practices use depression screening for both KM 12 A and C?

No. Services must be distinct for each category.

PCMH 2017