NCQA Corrections, Clarifications and Policy Changes to the 2016 UM-CR Standards and Guidelines
November 21, 2016
This document includes the corrections, clarifications and policy changes to the 2016 UM-CR Standards and Guidelines. NCQA has identified the
appropriate page number in the printed publication and the standard and head—subhead for each update. Updates have been incorporated into the
Interactive Survey System (ISS). NCQA operational definitions for correction, clarification and policy changes are as follows:
 A correction (CO) is a change made to rectify an error in the Standards and Guidelines.
 A clarification (CL) is additional information that explains an existing requirement.
 A policy change (PC) is a modification of an existing requirement.
An organization undergoing a survey under the 2016 UM-CR Standards and Guidelines must implement corrections and policy changes within 90 calendar
days of the ISS release date, unless otherwise specified. The 90-calendar-day advance notice does not apply to clarifications or FAQs because they are
not changes to existing requirements.
Page
Standard/Element
29
Policies and Procedures—
Section 5
Head/Subhead
Discretionary Survey
Update
Revise the Discretionary Survey section to read:
NCQA may survey an organization while a certification status is in effect. This survey is
called a Discretionary Survey and its purpose is to validate the appropriateness of the
organization’s ongoing certification.
Type of
Update
ISS Release
Date
PC
11/21/2016
Survey Structure
NCQA determines the scope and content of Discretionary Surveys, which may consist of
one or more of the following:
 An offsite document review.
 An onsite survey.
 A teleconference.
 File review (encompassing a sample of denial, appeal and UM files, as
appropriate).
 Interviews with organization staff.
Target
Discretionary Surveys address issues regarding the organization’s continued performance
against NCQA’s standards and other considerations that may pose an imminent threat to
members. During a discretionary review, a certified organization will be reviewed under
the NCQA standards in effect at the time of the discretionary review.
The Discretionary Survey may include file review (encompassing a sample of denial,
appeal, credentialing and recredentialing files, as appropriate) and interviews with
organization staff. Any relevant look-back period for file review standards will be
Would you like to discuss these updates with NCQA staff? As a member of the Accreditation and Certification Users Group (ACUG), you could—as well as other changes
to NCQA standards. Consider joining the ACUG! Click here or e-mail acug@ncqa.org for more information about why you should join.
Key = CO—Correction, CL—Clarification, PC—Policy Change
1
NCQA Corrections, Clarifications and Policy Changes to the 2016 UM-CR Standards and Guidelines
November 21, 2016
Page
Standard/Element
Head/Subhead
Update
determined at the time of the Discretionary Survey and may or may not reflect the full
look-back period identified in the standards.
Type of
Update
ISS Release
Date
CL
11/21/2016
Time frame
The Discretionary Survey is generally conducted within 60 calendar days of notification by
NCQA of its intent to conduct a Discretionary Survey. Discretionary Survey costs are
borne by the organization and correspond to the complexity and scope of the
Discretionary Survey and NCQA pricing policies in effect at the time of the Discretionary
Survey.
Change in status
When NCQA notifies the organization in writing of its intent to conduct a Discretionary
Survey, the organization’s existing certification status is listed with the notation “Under
Review by NCQA.”
NCQA may suspend the organization’s certification status pending completion of a
Discretionary Survey. Upon completion of the Discretionary Survey and after the ROC’s
decision, the organization’s status may change. The organization has the right to
Reconsideration if its certification status changes because of the Discretionary Survey.
50, 53
UM 1, Elements A, C
Exceptions
Add as the second exception to these elements:
Element A:
Factors 2 and 4 are NA if all clients of the organization’s services carve out or exclude
behavioral healthcare.
Element C:
This element is NA if all clients of the organization’s services carve out or exclude
behavioral healthcare.
80
UM 5, Element D
Exceptions
Add as the second exception (after the second bullet):
This element is NA for pharmaceutical approvals made at the point of service (i.e., a
pharmacy).
CL
11/21/2016
81
UM 5, Element E
Exceptions
Revise the exceptions to read:
This element is NA for organizations not seeking NCQA Certification in UM.
Factors 1 and 2 are NA if the organization performs only UM pharmacy activities for
clients.
CL
11/21/2016
Would you like to discuss these updates with NCQA staff? As a member of the Accreditation and Certification Users Group (ACUG), you could—as well as other changes
to NCQA standards. Consider joining the ACUG! Click here or e-mail acug@ncqa.org for more information about why you should join.
Key = CO—Correction, CL—Clarification, PC—Policy Change
2
NCQA Corrections, Clarifications and Policy Changes to the 2016 UM-CR Standards and Guidelines
November 21, 2016
Page
Standard/Element
Head/Subhead
Type of
Update
ISS Release
Date
Refer to the memo to review requirements that were eliminated for the 2017 Standards
Year and will be scored NA for the 2016 Standards Year.
PC
7/25/2016
Update
Factors 3 and 4 are NA if all purchasers of the organization's services carve out or
exclude pharmaceutical management.
Factor 4 is NA for pharmacy approvals made at the point of service (i.e., a pharmacy).
PREVIOUSLY POSTED UPDATES
Multiple
63
UM 4, Element A
Exceptions
Add as the second bulleted exception:
 The organization performs only UM pharmacy activities for clients.
PC
3/28/2016
64, 65
UM 4, Elements B, C
Exceptions
Add as the second exception:
This element is NA if the organization performs only UM pharmacy activities for clients.
PC
3/28/2016
65, 66
UM 4, Elements C, D
Explanation
Remove the last sentence in the second paragraph that reads:
Decisions about any services covered under member benefits are medical necessity
determinations.
CO
3/28/2016
UM 4, Element F
Look-back period
Revise the look-back period to read:
For Initial Surveys and Renewal Surveys: From the survey submission date back to April
1, 2016, or 6 months, whichever is less.
PC
3/28/2016
UM 5, Elements A, B
Exceptions
Add as the second exception:
This element is NA if the organization performs only UM pharmacy activities for clients.
PC
3/28/2016
80
UM 5, Element D
Related Information—
Oral notification
Add as the last paragraph under the subhead:
For Medicare Part D plans, initial oral notification of a decision may be made within the
specified time frames. Written notification must be made no later than three calendar days
after oral notification.
CL
3/28/2016
81
UM 5, Element E
Exceptions
Revise the exception to read:
Factor 4 is NA for pharmacy approvals made at the point of service (i.e., a pharmacy).
This update was replaced by one issued on November 21, 2016.
CO
7/25/2016
81
UM 5, Element E
Exceptions
Add as the first exception:
Factor 6 is NA for pharmacy approvals made at the point of service (i.e., a pharmacy).
This update was replaced by one issued on November 21, 2016.
CL
3/28/2016
68
71, 74
Would you like to discuss these updates with NCQA staff? As a member of the Accreditation and Certification Users Group (ACUG), you could—as well as other changes
to NCQA standards. Consider joining the ACUG! Click here or e-mail acug@ncqa.org for more information about why you should join.
Key = CO—Correction, CL—Clarification, PC—Policy Change
3
NCQA Corrections, Clarifications and Policy Changes to the 2016 UM-CR Standards and Guidelines
November 21, 2016
PREVIOUSLY POSTED UPDATES
Page
84
Standard/Element
Head/Subhead
Update
Type of
Update
ISS Release
Date
UM 6, Element A
Exceptions
Add as the second exception:
This element is NA if the organization performs only UM pharmacy activities for clients.
PC
3/28/2016
UM 7, Elements A–C
Exceptions
Add as the second exception:
This element is NA if the organization performs only UM pharmacy activities for clients.
PC
3/28/2016
117,
172
UM 13, Element B,
CR 8, Element B
Explanation—Factor 4:
Access to PHI
Replace the text under the subhead with the following:
No additional explanation required.
CO
7/25/2016
126
CRC 2, Element A
Exceptions
Revise the second bullet to read:
 The organization is not seeking NCQA Certification in CR.
CL
3/28/2016
139
CR 1, Element A
Explanation—Factor 1:
Types of practitioners
CL
3/28/2016
155
CR 3, Element C
Explanation—Factor 2:
Sources for Medicare/
Medicaid Sanctions
Revise the last subbullet of the first bullet to read:
– Other medical practitioners.
Add as the sixth bullet:
 AMA Physician Master File.
PC
7/25/2016
87, 88,
90
Would you like to discuss these updates with NCQA staff? As a member of the Accreditation and Certification Users Group (ACUG), you could—as well as other changes
to NCQA standards. Consider joining the ACUG! Click here or e-mail acug@ncqa.org for more information about why you should join.
Key = CO—Correction, CL—Clarification, PC—Policy Change
4