We Need You! Public Comment on HEDIS Measures Starts Today!

November 14, 2016 · NCQA Communications

We Need You! That’s right, your voice counts at NCQA.

We Need You!

We take our public comment periods very seriously. We read and consider every response we receive.

We are asking for your input on the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS^®) and Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS^®) measures included in Health Plan Accreditation (HPA) for the 2018 reporting year. Public Comment Period starts November 14 through December 16, 2016.

This is an opportunity for health plans, purchasers, consumers and other stakeholders to weigh in on the relevance and feasibility of measures proposed for scoring in HPA.

This public comment is specifically intended for input on adding and retiring HEDIS/CAHPS measures for Health Plan Accreditation. A second public comment for updates to Health Plan Accreditation standards will take place in March 2017.

NCQA seeks public comment on the proposed product updates listed below.

NCQA proposes to add these measures to those scored in HPA:

• For commercial, Medicare and Medicaid plans:
  • Statin Therapy for Patients With Cardiovascular Disease (SPC) (both rates).
  • Statin Therapy for Patients With Diabetes (SPD) (both rates).
  • Initiation and Engagement of Alcohol and Other Drug Dependence Treatment (IET) (Initiation of AOD Treatment rate).
• For commercial and Medicare plans:
  • Risk Adjusted Emergency Department Utilization (EDU).
• For Medicare plans:
  • Non-Recommended PSA-Based Screening in Older Men (PSA).
• For Medicaid plans:
  • Adherence to Antipsychotic Medications for Individuals with Schizophrenia (SAA).

NCQA proposes to remove these measures from scoring in HPA

• For commercial, Medicare and Medicaid plans:
  • Comprehensive Diabetes Care (Medical Attention for Nephropathy rate).
  • Comprehensive Diabetes Care (HbA1c Poor Control (>9%) rate).
• For commercial plans:
  • Medical Assistance With Smoking and Tobacco Use Cessation (Advising Smokers to Quit rate).
• For Medicare plans:
  • Adult BMI Assessment

Reviewers are asked to submit their comments in writing via NCQA’s public comment website by 5:00 p.m. (EST) on Friday, December 16, 2016.

The public comment site is http://bit.ly/2fz4CtO

The final list of measures for scoring in 2018 will be will be released on NCQA’s Web site in April 2017.