User Manual COMRAD Help Guide 061118
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Communications Relational Assurance Database
(COMRAD)
User Manual/Help Guide
Version 1.0
04/19/2018
Contract Number: HHSM-500-2017-00022
CMS XLC Table of Contents
UM Version 1.0 ii <COMRAD and release name>
Table of Contents
1. Introduction .............................................................................................................. 4
2. Overview ................................................................................................................... 5
3. Getting Started ......................................................................................................... 6
3.1 Set-up Considerations ...................................................................................... 6
3.2 User Access (Via Front-End Interface) ............................................................. 6
3.3 Accessing the System ....................................................................................... 6
3.3.1 Login ........................................................................................................... 6
3.3.2 Description of the Homepage After Login ................................................... 8
3.3.3 Navigation ................................................................................................... 8
4. Using the System ................................................................................................... 10
4.1 Scorecard ....................................................................................................... 10
4.2 Add Scorecard ................................................................................................ 11
4.3 Reports ........................................................................................................... 14
4.3.1 Report Result Screen ............................................................................... 15
4.3.2 List of Reports .......................................................................................... 16
4.4 CSR List .......................................................................................................... 17
4.5 Rebuttal List .................................................................................................... 20
4.6 User Management .......................................................................................... 22
4.6.1 Create Users ............................................................................................ 22
4.6.2 List of users .............................................................................................. 23
4.7 My Account ..................................................................................................... 24
4.8 Support ........................................................................................................... 25
Appendix A: Acronyms ............................................................................................... 26
List of Figures
Figure 1: Welcome Screen .............................................................................................. 7
Figure 2: Home Page ...................................................................................................... 8
Figure 3: List of Scorecards .......................................................................................... 11
Figure 4: Save and Update Scorecards ........................................................................ 14
Figure 5: Search Report Screen .................................................................................... 15
Figure 6: Reports Result Screen ................................................................................... 16
Figure 7: CSR List Template ......................................................................................... 18
Figure 8: CSR List 1 ...................................................................................................... 18
CMS XLC List of Tables
UM Version 1.0 iii <COMRAD and release name>
Figure 9: CSR List 2 ...................................................................................................... 19
Figure 10: CSR List 3 .................................................................................................... 20
Figure 11: List of Rebuttals ........................................................................................... 21
Figure 12: Save/Update Rebuttal .................................................................................. 22
Figure 13: Create User .................................................................................................. 23
Figure 14: List of Users ................................................................................................. 24
Figure 15: My Account .................................................................................................. 25
List of Tables
Table 1 - User /Role Accesses ........................................................................................ 6
Table 2: Acronyms ........................................................................................................ 26
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1. Introduction
CMS oversees the performance of 16 MAC Jurisdiction contracts and a network of 17 Provider Contact
Centers (PCCs) that administer provider customer service by responding to provider inquiries in support of
the Provider Customer Service Program (PCSP).
This includes:
• Quality monitoring of calls from Medicare providers to Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC)
Customer Service Representatives (CSRs).
• Developing, implementing, and using a Communications Relational Assurance Database
(COMRAD) to record and store QAM information and generate user-defined reports.
The COMRAD shall have the capability to produce and aggregate QAM information as defined by users for
analysis and review by CMS and the MACs.
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2. Overview
The Communications Relational Assurance Database (COMRAD) is a web application that supports the
business processes related to the evaluation of Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) Customer
Service Representatives’ (CSRs) responses to provider inquiries. The COMRAD is built to record and store
QAM Scorecard results and produce reports for CMS and the MACs. The COMRAD has the functionality of
the current QAD and PQM Portal, including the ability to accommodate any future changes to MACs and
MAC jurisdictions as directed by the CMS Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).
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3. Getting Started
The following sections describe processes and procedures for accessing the COMRAD System.
3.1 Set-up Considerations
CMS screens are designed to be viewed at a minimum screen resolution of 800 x 600. To optimize your
access to the COMRAD, the screen resolution should be set to 1024 x 768 or higher.
Access to the Internet is required as the COMRAD is a web-based application. The following Internet
browsers are compatible for the COMRAD:
1. Internet Explorer, version 8.0 or higher
2. Chrome
3.2 User Access (Via Front-End Interface)
• Administrator: Views and modifies all COMRAD components and data.
• Quality Manager: Views and modifies all components and data of the COMRAD as they relate
specifically to QAM.
• CMS User: Views all components of the COMRAD as they relate specifically to QAM. May also
modify data for specific components.
• MAC Administrator: View Home, view Scorecard, view My Account, view Resources, view and
upload CSR List, Add Rebuttals and Add users in the User Management.
• Quality Monitor: Views and modifies Scorecard of the COMRAD as they relate specifically to
QAM. Has full modify access for the Scorecard forms.
• MAC User: View Home, view Scorecard, view My Account, view Resources, view and upload CSR
List, add Rebuttals.
Table 1 - User /Role Accesses
No User/Role Accesses
1 Administrator Home, Scorecard, Reports, CSR, Rebuttals, User Management, My Account,
Resources
2 Quality Manager Home, Scorecard, Reports, Rebuttals, My Account, Resources
3 CMS User Home, Reports, CSR, Rebuttals, My Account, Resources
4 MAC
Administrator
Home, Scorecard, CSR, Rebuttals, User Management, My Account, Resources
5 Quality Monitor Home, Scorecard, My Account, Resources
6 MAC User Home, Scorecard, CSR, Rebuttals, My Account, Resources
3.3 Accessing the System
3.3.1 Login
Users will login with a unique username and password created by the System Administrator.
The Login page displays information about the system.
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Figure 1: Welcome Screen
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3.3.2 Description of the Homepage After Login
Figure 2: Home Page
The Homepage displays the following:
Username, Logout button, Screen Magnifier Icon and Session Timeout display at the top
right corner.
Display of Home, Scorecard, Reports, CSR, Rebuttal, User Management, My Account and
Resources Menu.
Hyperlinks to Home, Privacy, Security and Disclaimer at the bottom right corner.
3.3.3 Navigation
Upon successful login, the Homepage displays the following menu items
Home
Scorecard: COMRAD stores all completed Scorecards created for the QAM program. It
displays a list of all saved Scorecards and give all valid users the ability to view the
completed Scorecards. The Scorecard display list contains navigation tools to allow users to
access all completed scorecards based on their role.
Reports: The COMRAD creates Scorecard, rebuttal, compliance and non-compliance
reports. Users select and create reports from the backend database.
CSR: The COMRAD menu option CSR allow users to:
Download the CSR List template for use when creating the CSR List for upload
Upload a new CSR List
Verify no changes to CSR List on file
Generate CSR List report
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Rebuttal: The COMRAD allow users to create a rebuttal to a failed Scorecard. The
COMRAD will also enable users to edit and view rebuttals created and saved to COMRAD.
User Management: The COMRAD menu user management allow users to:
Create new users
Edit users saved to the COMRAD
View users saved to the COMRAD
Activate and Inactivate users
My Account: All Users will be able to view the information in their personal my account page
Resources: All Users will be able to view the helpful resources presented via the resource
menu.
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4. Using the System
4.1 Scorecard
1. This page shows different Scorecard search filters. Users can filter their search by selecting one of the
following:
Select MAC gives user the option to choose a range of 1 to all MACs.
Select Jurisdiction gives user the option to choose a range of 1 to all MAC
Select Status gives user the option to choose All, Pass, or Fail.
Selecting QM ID gives user options to search by Quality Monitor ID. Quality Monitor ID is a
randomly generated ID by the COMRAD.
Select Scorecard Type gives user the option to choose All, Scoreable, Non-Scoreable, or
Does Not Count.
Select From Date to choose the start date of the Scorecard to be viewed.
Select To Date to choose the end date of the Scorecard to be viewed.
Select Filter button to filter results.
Select Reset button to reset field.
Select Add Scorecard button to add new Scorecard.
After the result has been filtered, the list of Scorecards is displayed below the page showing
the selected fields. From this, User can:
Copy the result displayed in the current page.
Open/Save in Excel or PDF format.
If a user clicks on view in Excel or PDF accidentally, the system will provide an option to cancel
what was clicked.
Also, the system will enable user to click on the Next button to go to the next page if the result
to be viewed is more than one page.
The system will also enable user to click on Previous button to go back to the previous page.
User will be able to view results by clicking on any of the fields displayed (MAC, Jurisdiction,
MAC Call Reference ID, QAM Name/ID, QM Start Date/Time, Scorecard Type, Status and
Actions). User can also search field via the Search box.
The system allows user to see the number of entries that was filtered at the bottom left of the
page.
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Figure 3: List of Scorecards
4.2 Add Scorecard
To add Scorecards, Users are required to fill the following information
QAM Information
Except the Scorecard Type, rest of the fields are not editable. Information is populated
automatically.
QM Name/QM ID
Select Scorecard Type (Scoreable, Non-Scoreable, Does Not Count)
Select QM Start Date/Time
Select QM End Date/Time
QAM Contact Information
Call Monitoring Date
MAC
MAC Jurisdiction
Program Selected:
LOB Selected
QAM Call and CSR Information
Call Time (The actual time the call was made)
Call Duration (Length of call)
CSR Full Name (The CSR that received the call)
CSR Levels - CSR level 1,2
Call Language (English or Spanish)
MAC Call Reference ID
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o The COMRAD will auto-populate the fields of the MAC Call Reference ID field as
users select information needed for this reference number selected
o The format for the field is:
(JurisdictionCSR1stInitialLastNameYearMonthDay_Time).
Call Category:
Call Sub-Category which differs based on the Call Category selected. Select the Call Sub-
category according to the Call category.
Knowledge skills
If a User selects “Yes” then the cursor moves to the next question.
If a User selects “No” for Provision of Accurate Information, User will be required to provide
Accuracy Call Failure Reason and Accuracy Call Failure Time.
If a User selects “No” for Provision of Complete Information, User will be required to
provide Completeness Call Failure Reason and Completeness Call Failure Time.
Adherence To Privacy
If a User selects “Yes,” then the cursor moves to the next question.
If a User selects “No” for Adherence To Privacy procedures, User will be required to
provide Privacy Call Failure Reason and Privacy Call Failure Time which is available via a
dropdown for users to choose from
Customer Skills
If a User selects “No” for Customer Skills, User will be required to provide Customer Skills
Call Failure Reason and Customer Skills Call Failure Time which is available via a
dropdown for users to choose.
Call Result
This will be auto generated based on the above selected field
User will be required to write Call Failure Reason Comments in the first text box and if needed,
additional comments can be added in the second text box. After all these fields have been correctly
filled and selected, User will select Save button to save what has been inputted.
Select Close button to close the Page.
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Figure 4: Save and Update Scorecards
4.3 Reports
User will be able to generate Scorecard, Compliance or Rebuttal Reports by selecting these fields
via dropdowns
MAC
Jurisdiction
Program
PCC/Location
From Date
To Date
Scorecard Radio button
Compliance Radio button
Rebuttal Radio button
Scorecard Type
Call Result
After the appropriate fields have been selected, User will select Generate Report to view the
Report. User can also select the Reset button to clear field.
View contractor Information via the dropdown on the Report Menu, clicking on this dropdown will
enable user to either Open, Save or Cancel the document to be opened.
This document will be opened in a separate window on the computer.
The document can also be saved on the user preferred location on the computer.
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Figure 5: Search Report Screen
4.3.1 Report Result Screen
Click on back button to return to search report screen page.
Results can be downloaded in Excel and PDF format.
Results can also be copied from the COMRAD.
If a user clicks on any of the export options, the system will provide an option to Open, Save or
Cancel.
Select any of the three options.
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Figure 6: Reports Result Screen
4.3.2 List of Reports
1. Scoreable, Non-Scoreable, Does Not Count Records (Both Pass and Fail)
Displays Scoreable, Non-Scoreable and Does Not Count records with both pass and fail
status. Generated based on selection criteria and dates.
2. Scoreable, Non-Scoreable, Does Not Count Records(Pass)
Displays Scoreable, Non-Scoreable and Does Not Count report with only pass records.
Generated based on selection criteria and dates.
3. Scoreable, Non-Scoreable, Does Not Count Records(Fail)
Displays Scoreable, Non-Scoreable, Does Not Count report with only fail records. Generated
based on selection criteria and dates.
4. Scoreable (Both Pass and Fail Records)
Scoreable report with both the pass and fail records. Generated based on selection criteria and
dates.
5. Scoreable (Only Pass Records)
Scoreable report with only pass records. Generated based on selection criteria and dates.
6. Scoreable (Only Fail Records)
Scoreable report with only fail records. Generated based on selection criteria and dates.
7. Non-Scoreable Records
Non-Scoreable report with only non-scoreable records. Generated based on selection criteria
and dates.
8. Does Not Count Records
Does not count type report with only does not count records. Generated based on selection
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criteria and dates.
9. QASP (Both Pass and Fail Records)
QASP reports are aggregated Scorecard reports generated for pass and failed statues. User
will be able to generate the report based on varied selection criteria’s and dates.
10. Compliance Report (All)
Compliance report is generated for CSR Lists. Compliance is flagged to all the MAC’s CSR
Lists based on the date uploaded to the COMRAD.
11. Non - Compliance Report
Non-Compliance report is generated for CSR Lists. Non-Compliance is flagged to all the
MAC’s CSR Lists if the MAC uploads CSR Lists to COMRAD after 5th day of each month.
12. Rebuttal Report (All)
Multiple types of rebuttal reports are generated based on different filter criteria and dates.
Completed, Pending and all is one of the filter criteria to generate the report.
13. Rebuttal Category Report
Multiple rebuttal category reports are generated based on different filter criteria, dates and
categories.
4.4 CSR List
CSR Menu allow user to perform the following:
CSR menu option allows Users to
Download the “Sample CSR Template” for uploading the CSR List to COMRAD. MAC
users should always use the COMRAD “Sample CSR Template” for loading the CSR user
data.
Upload a new CSR List – CSR information loaded into the COMRAD provided template
can be uploaded from MAC users computer using “Upload CSR List” button in the CSR
List screen. MAC user should upload the CSR List by 5th of each month.
Compliance & Non-Compliance:
o Compliance: MAC users who uploaded the data by 5th of each month are tagged
as “compliant” in COMRAD database.
o Non-Compliance: MAC users who upload the CSR Lists data after 5th or who
don’t upload the CSR Lists data for that month are tagged as “non-compliant” in
COMRAD database.
‘Keep Current List’ checkbox: If the CSR List doesn’t change from last month, MAC
users can select “Keep Current List” to notify COMRAD to add the last month CSR Lists
data to the current month CSR Lists data
o Compliance: MAC users who check the “Keep Current List” checkbox by 5th of
each month are tagged as “compliant” in COMRAD database.
o Non-Compliance: MAC users who don’t check the “Keep Current List” checkbox
after 5th are tagged as “non-compliant” in COMRAD database.
Note: MAC users should either upload the CSR Lists to the COMRAD or select “Keep Current List” check
box to be compliant with QAM policies.
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The CSR List Template is as follows:
Figure 7: CSR List Template
Select Download Sample CSR Template to download and view CSR List template or to save a
copy of the template on your computer
To upload a new CSR List, click on the Browse button and it will take User to the actual location
where documents are saved. User can select the folder that contains the CSR List to be uploaded.
See Fig:8 below
The system will ask if User really wants to keep current list by a pop-up confirmation tab. See Fig:9
below
Selects the file to be uploaded. See Figure:8 below
Figure 8: CSR List 1
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Figure 9: CSR List 2
Select Value for the MAC.
Select Value for the Jurisdiction.
Select Upload File button.
User can search CSR via these filters:
o From Date
o To Date
o MAC
o Jurisdiction
User can click Search CSR button after entering all the values.
User can click Previous and Next to go to the next page or return to the previous page
Select Copy button to copy the CSR List already uploaded
Select CSV button to view and save in CSV format
Select Excel button to view and save in Excel format
Select PDF button to view and save in PDF format
Select Print to print the list
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Figure 10: CSR List 3
4.5 Rebuttal List
List of Rebuttals -
Select Values from the MAC field.
Jurisdiction which is based on the MAC already selected.
Select From Date and To Date.
Click Filter to search the list of Rebuttals.
Click Reset to clear all fields.
Click Add Rebuttals to add new Rebuttal.
The Rebuttal page shows the list of Rebuttals that has been generated. Rebuttal List columns
displays:
MAC
MAC Call Reference ID
QM Name/ID
PCC / Location: The RAD shall display the PCC Name identified when Rebuttal created
Date Posted: The RAD shall display the Timestamp for when the Rebuttal was saved to
the RAD
Response Time: Business days elapsed between Date Posted and most current update to
Rebuttal.
Reporting Month (Monitoring Period for Failed Scorecard)
Status: The RAD shall display the status of the Rebuttal as follows:
o Pending
o Completed
Result: The RAD shall display the current result of the Rebuttal as follows:
o Pending
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o Scoring Modified
o Scoring Unchanged
o CMS Elevated
Actions
o View
o Edit
Select Copy button to copy and paste the current displayed page.
Select Excel button to view and save in Excel format.
Select PDF button to view and save in PDF format.
Figure 11: List of Rebuttals
Select Add Rebuttal to add new Rebuttal
Select MAC Call Reference ID and the following fields will be populated
o CSR Full Name
o Call Time
o Call Monitoring Date
o Call Category
o LOB
o QM Name/ID
Select PCC/Location
Select PCC Contact Person
Select the Attachments checkbox to verify that PHI/PII information is not included in the
attachment before uploading.
To upload a document to the Rebuttal form, click on the Browse button and it will take User to the
actual location where documents are saved. From here, select the folder that contains the
attachment to be uploaded.
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Figure 12: Save/Update Rebuttal
Select Save button to save what has been inputted and select Close button to close the Page.
When the Rebuttal is created and saved, the system takes user to List of Rebuttals page. See
fig:11.
4.6 User Management
When a User clicks on User Management button, it shows a dropdown that displays
Create Users
List of Users
4.6.1 Create Users
To create new User, click on Create Users and fill the following fields
Username / Email Address
Password
Confirm your password
First Name
Middle Name
Last Name
Organization
Role
If MAC is selected as an Organization, additional fields will be required
MAC
Jurisdiction
PCC/ Location
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Select Create to create user
Select Close to close the page
Figure 13: Create User
4.6.2 List of users
The COMRAD updates the List of Users when new Users are entered/created.
View Users by clicking on List of Users button.
Search for a specific User by the Last Name or Role or Organization.
Click Search to get the list of users.
Click Add User, to create User.
Double click on Active or Inactive under User Access to make a user ‘Inactive’ or ‘Active’.
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Figure 14: List of Users
4.7 My Account
This page shows the user’s account information in the following order
User name / Email Address
Change Password
First Name
Middle Name
Last Name
Organization
Role
MAC
Jurisdiction
PCC/Location
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Appendix A: Acronyms
Table 2: Acronyms
Acronym Literal Translation Definition
CMS Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services
CMS is a Federal agency within the United States
Department of Health and Human Services that
administers the Medicare program and works in
partnership with state governments to administer
Medicaid, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program,
and health insurance portability standards.
PDF Portable Document
Format
A file format used to represent documents in a manner
independent of application software, hardware, and
operating system.
MAC Medicare
Administrative
Contractor
A Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) is a
private health care insurer that has been awarded a
geographic jurisdiction to process Medicare Part A and
Part B (A/B) medical claims or Durable Medical
Equipment (DME) claims for Medicare Fee-For-
Service (FFS) beneficiaries. CMS relies on a network
of MACs to serve as the primary operational contact
between the Medicare FFS program and the health
care providers enrolled in the program. MACs are
multi-state, regional contractors responsible for
administering both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part
B claims.
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Approvals
The undersigned acknowledge that they have reviewed this document and agree with the
information presented within. Changes to this document will be coordinated with, and approved
by, the undersigned, or their designated representatives.
Signature: Date:
Print Name:
Title:
Role: Arch Systems Approving Authority
Signature: Date:
Print Name:
Title:
Role: CMS Approving Authority
