Factors for Selecting Performance Measures
Factors | CAHPS® | HCUP QIs | HEDIS® | Title V |
---|---|---|---|---|
Suitable for comparing? | Yes, if CAHPS® specifications followed. | Not designed for comparisons. | Yes, if HEDIS® specifications followed. | Yes, if involved users adopt and adhere to identical, rigorous methodological specifications. |
Suitable for trending? | Yes, if CAHPS® specifications followed. | Not designed for comparisons. | Yes, if HEDIS® specifications followed. | Yes, if involved users adopt and adhere to identical, rigorous methodological specifications. |
For use with what service delivery systems? | MCOs, PCCM, FFS | Can be used with hospital data from any service delivery system. | Designed for MCOs; applications with PCCM, FFS are in place. | State users can adopt additional specifications to suit various service delivery systems. |
For use with what units of analysis? | MCOs, PCCM programs, FFS programs—can be administered locally or statewide. | Statewide; can be applied within smaller regions if there are enough hospitals. | Designed for MCOs; applications with statewide PCCM and FFS programs are in place. | Statewide |
Database and benchmarks available? | Databases are available. | National statistics to be posted on Web site in the future. | Databases are available. | Individual State-reported performance measurement results are available online. |
User support provided? | Extensive user support and user support network available free of charge. | User support available free of charge. | Extensive user support and users group available at various costs. | MCHB/HRSA staff are available to answer questions. |
How much does it cost? | CAHPS® specifications and protocols are in the public domain. Drawing a sample for a CAHPS® survey, administering the survey, and analyzing the data according to proper procedures have associated costs. | HCUP QIs software is in the public domain. The cost of using the software to calculate quality indicators is dependent on the availability of State-level data and on the completeness and accuracy of the data. | Documents describing HEDIS® specifications and protocols required when submitting HEDIS® (and CAHPS® 2.0H) results to NCQA; available for purchase from NCQA. There are costs for administering the CAHPS® 2.0H measure (the HEDIS® version of CAHPS® ). There are also costs for collecting other HEDIS® measures, particularly if medical records review is used. | The cost of using Title V measures varies widely, depending on the complexity of the measures, the clarity of measure specifications, and the availability of usable data. |
CAHPS®: Consumer Assessment of Health Plans
FFS: fee for service
HCUP QIs: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Quality Indicators
HEDIS®: Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set
HRSA: Health Resources and Services Administration
MCHB: Maternal and Child Health Bureau
MCO: managed care organization
NCQA: National Committee for Quality Assurance
PCCM: primary care case management
Title V: Maternal and Child Health Programs