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OPM responses to RFI questions
| Q1: | Does [aggregation of data streams reflecting each plan's results] just mean preparing a comparative report? Is the intent for this to be interactive or static? |
| A1: | We are interested in interactive reporting as well as static reporting capabilities. |
| Q2: | Can you please clarify what are you expecting the vendor to do specifically for "Compliance with written instructions on how to sample the data"? The reason we are asking this question is sampling is done prior to producing the rates. So we need clarification on what sampling are you referring to at the time of data aggregation and trend analysis. |
| A2: | We are interested in analytic capabilities to determine compliance with instructions, such as testing data for plan compliance with sampling instructions. |
| Q3: | How does the OPM expect to have access to the compiled reports? |
| A3: | OPM is interested in electronic report access, and we are interested in interactive reporting as well as routine reports. We are interested in gathering information from the industry about secure, remote ways to access and generate reports. |
| Q4: | What level of access does OPM expect to have in the compiled reports - e.g. power user having access to most granular level, or business/functional user - access to the key insights/analysis etc. |
| A4: | We are interested in options available in the industry. |
| Q5: | How are the customized reports different from Ad-hoc reporting needs mentioned in Point #10 on page 8? |
| A5: | Customizable and ad-hoc reports are interchangeable terms. |
| Q6: | Does the OPM provide the requirements for ad hoc reports to the data aggregation vendor? Or OPM expects the need to have self-service abilities for the OPM staff to generate ad-hoc reports? |
| A6: | We are interested in options available in the industry. |
| Q7: | Is the intent to provide back end access to raw data for actual querying with a tool like SQL or Cognos, or some type of cube structure? Or is the intent to provide more of an interactive dashboard to allow end users to choose data to display? What is meant by "interim analysis?" |
| A7: | We are interested in access to raw data in a structured form, as well as the ability to query data to display. Interim analysis refers to the ability to obtain information between regular reporting cycles. In addition to analysis of submitted data, we are interested in projections and estimations from known reference databases and trend analyses from early data. |
| Q8: | Is there an expectation for the vendor to prepare web-ready reports? If yes, are these web-based reports to be static or interactive? |
| A8: | We are interested in interactive reporting as well as static reporting capabilities. We are interested in any other options available in the industry. |
| Q9: | What do electronic clinical files mean? |
| A9: | To clarify, we are interested in the underlying data for any of the measures, including extracts of claims, medical records, survey responses, etc. |
| Q10: | Can we assume that the scope of work may include the necessity to receive most granular data (such as enrollment, claims etc.) as well as calculated compliance metrics (e.g. through IDSS). Please clarify what types of data files - raw data files that may be produced by the software which can be used for analysis, patient level detail files, results/submission files in CSV or XMS files produced by software vendors? |
| A10: | We may be interested in receiving multiple types of files with varying levels of granularity. We cannot anticipate every future data submission, but expect many data files to be similar to IDSS or in other common formats (e.g., CSV). We are interested in flexible collection, analysis, and reporting capabilities. |
| Q11: | Can OPM provide information on the current vendor who is assisting OPM with aggregating CAPHS and HEDIS data? |
| A11: | As stated in the RFI, OPM currently aggregates CAHPS data with the assistance of a vendor (see https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/carriers/2014/2014-20.pdf for information), receives HEDIS results directly through NCQA, and contracts with NCQA for Quality Compass benchmarks. |
| Q12: | Is there an incumbent contractor? |
| A12: | This is an RFI to investigate potential new requirements. |
| Q13: | Is it assumed that all health plans use NCQA software certified, or NCQA audited software? If not, are there provisions to ensure the integrity of the existing HEDIS results? |
| A13: | Please see our 2015 guidance to plans here, which includes reporting instructions: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/carriers/2014/2014-24.pdf and https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/carriers/2014/2014-20.pdf. We are interested in the capability to test data to detect anomalies as an additional measure of data integrity. |
| Q14: | Please clarify if the RFI is requesting information on creating new benchmarks for measures that are not covered by current NCQA means and percentiles or CMS public use files. |
| A14: | Yes, we are interested in the capability to generate benchmarks based on sufficiently large external data sets. Please note OPM uses commercial benchmarks and we are interested in benchmarks developed using similar populations. |
| Q15: | Are the performance measures (HEDIS, CAHPS) same as the one in the letter to carriers “FEHB Program Carrier Letter”? |
| A15: | Yes, the performance measures for 2016 are listed in referenced carrier letter link. |
| Q16: | Does OPM plan to share the performance measures with their Health Plan members? |
| A16: | OPM currently displays raw HEDIS and CAHPS scores on our website (https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/quality-healthcare-scores/). We have not yet determined if and how this may change in the future. |
| Q17: | The performance measures in the above mentioned letter doesn’t have any NQF measures, but are mostly HEDIS and CAPHS measures. Can OPM provide guidance on NQF measures that have been identified for carrier performance measurement? |
| A17: | NQF is a measure consensus organization. Please see www.qualityforum.org for more information. |
| Q18: | While the HEDIS measures are/can be sourced from Quality Compass and the FEHB Program carriers, has OPM identified any sources for acquiring NQF endorsed measures? |
| A18: | As stated in the RFI, OPM contracts with NCQA for access to Quality Compass for benchmarks. Please see http://www.ncqa.org/HEDISQualityMeasurement/QualityMeasurementProducts/QualityCompass.aspx for additional information about Quality Compass. NQF reviews and endorses measures developed by measure stewards in its role as a measure consensus organization. As an example, OPM has evaluated measure developed by the Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) and endorsed by NQF. |
| Q19: | Do all 97 health plans currently report audited HEDIS and CAHPS results to NCQA? If not, do they at least calculate HEDIS results and conduct CAHPS surveys? |
| A19: | OPM requires all FEHB plans to report HEDIS and CAHPS results. Please see our 2015 guidance to plans here: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/carriers/2014/2014-24.pdf and https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/carriers/2014/2014-20.pdf. For the purposes of this RFI, please assume all HEDIS results will be audited and all CAHPS sample frames will be audited. |
| Q20: | We are assuming that computation of bonus/penalty amounts and subsequent disbursement of these amounts to the carriers are not in scope for this RFI. Is this a correct assumption? |
| A20: | Yes, that is correct. |
| Q21: | It seems that you are looking for putting in place a component (possibly an analytics tool) that will allow you to search across various data points and then organize the data where it rests. Is that what the primary goal of this solicitation is? |
| A21: | We are seeking information on the ability to provide all of the following: experience with quality measurement techniques in healthcare; access to a suitable database to develop benchmarks when none are available from existing sources; and relational data analysis capabilities. |
Q22: What is the size limit for the documents to be sent as email attachments?
What is the maximum file size that can be transmitted to OPM?
A22: 10MB
| Q23: | Under “Response Submission”, the last bullet states that OPM would like 5 hard copies delivered. Then it states that you would like an electronic copy sent via email. Can you please confirm that you want both Hard Copy AND Electronic versions of the proposal? |
| A23: | Yes, we would like an electronic copy and five (5) hard copies. |
Q24: Are appendices and supplemental information subject to the 25 page limit?
Can an executive summary be included with the response that is not part of the page count?
Are appendices and other supplemental information included as part of the page count?
Are the responses to the questions on page 3 of the RFI to be included with the requirements section part of the page limit?
A24: Submissions shall be no more than 25 pages in length, excluding the cover page, table of contents, and past performance. All other components are subject to the page limit.
Q25: What is the timeline that OPM would ideally like to meet to implement this project?
What is the estimated timeframe for the data aggregation project? Is the intent to take data that will be reported in June of 2016 and use those data for aggregation?
A25: We are gathering information in this RFI and will decide a course of action at a future date.
| Q26: | Does the bidder need to be compliant with the IT policies and standards such as 508 and NIST certification listed in Appendix A? |
| A26: | This is a request for information. We are not soliciting bids. Appendix A of this RFI is for informational purposes only. |
