NationalPublic Quality Measures Compared to Achievable Benchmarks

The NHQR quality measures specific to Public are compared to achievable benchmarks, which are derived from the top-performing States. Better performance of a State can mean higher or lower values of a measure, depending on the desired outcome. For example, low values are desirable for measures such as infant mortality, whereas high values are desirable for measures such as preventative screening. The categories of achievement have been standardized across the measure definitions so that:

Measures That Achieved Benchmark or Better

Measure	Population	Estimate	Benchmark	Distance to Benchmark
Obstetric trauma per 1,000 vaginal deliveries without instrument assistance	Medicaid	12.0	17.0	Achieved: 30% better
Obstetric trauma per 1,000 instrument-assisted deliveries	Medicare	84.6	113.7	Achieved: 26% better
Obstetric trauma per 1,000 instrument-assisted deliveries	Medicaid	92.2	113.7	Achieved: 19% better
Adults ages 18-64 at high risk (e.g., COPD) who ever received influenza vaccination	Public only	56.9	49.4	Achieved: 15% better
Obstetric trauma per 1,000 vaginal deliveries without instrument assistance	Medicare	14.5	17.0	Achieved: 15% better
Adults who received a blood cholesterol measurement in the last 5 years	Medicare and public	93.8	82.6	Achieved: 14% better
Adults who received a blood cholesterol measurement in the last 5 years	Medicare only	92.5	82.6	Achieved: 12% better
Adults age 40 and over with diagnosed diabetes who received at least two hemoglobin A1c measurements in the calendar year	Medicare only	77.8	76.9	Achieved: 1% better
Adults ages 18-64 at high risk (e.g., COPD) who ever received pneumococcal vaccination	Public only	36.4	37.0	2%
Women with clinical Stage I-IIb breast cancer who received axillary node dissection or sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) at the time of surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy)	Public only	95.5	97.0	2%
Patients with colon cancer who received surgical resection of colon cancer that included at least 12 lymph nodes pathologically examined	Medicare only	87.8	89.3	2%
Adults age 40 and over with diagnosed diabetes who received a flu vaccination in the calendar year	Medicare only	70.0	71.2	2%
Patients with colon cancer who received surgical resection of colon cancer that included at least 12 lymph nodes pathologically examined	Medicare and supplement	87.7	89.3	2%
Patients with colon cancer who received surgical resection of colon cancer that included at least 12 lymph nodes pathologically examined	Public only	87.5	89.3	2%
Adults age 40 and over with diagnosed diabetes who received a flu vaccination in the calendar year	Medicare and other public	68.9	71.2	3%
Deaths per 1,000 adult hospital admissions with congestive heart failure	Medicaid	16.3	15.7	4%
Women with clinical Stage I-IIb breast cancer who received axillary node dissection or sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) at the time of surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy)	Medicare only	90.5	97.0	7%
Deaths per 1,000 adult hospital admissions with acute myocardial infarction (AMI)	Medicare	43.8	41.1	7%
Adults age 40 and over with diagnosed diabetes who received at least two hemoglobin A1c measurements in the calendar year	Medicare and other public	71.7	76.9	7%
Women with clinical Stage I-IIb breast cancer who received axillary node dissection or sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) at the time of surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy)	Medicare and supplement	90.3	97.0	7%
Women under age 70 treated for breast cancer with breast-conserving surgery who received radiation therapy to the breast within 1 year of diagnosis	Medicare and supplement	88.0	95.2	8%
Women under age 70 treated for breast cancer with breast-conserving surgery who received radiation therapy to the breast within 1 year of diagnosis	Medicare only	87.2	95.2	8%
Adults age 40 and over with diagnosed diabetes who received 2 or more hemoglobin A1c measurements in the calendar year	Public only	70.1	76.9	9%

Measures That Are Close to Benchmark

Measure	Population	Estimate	Benchmark	Distance to Benchmark
Adults age 40 and over with diagnosed diabetes who had their feet checked for sores or irritation in the calendar year	Medicare only	75.9	84.7	10%
Deaths per 1,000 adult hospital admissions with pneumonia	Medicare	21.1	19.1	11%
Adults age 65 and over who received an influenza vaccination in the last 12 months	Medicare and public	68.6	77.1	11%
Women ages 21-65 who received a Pap smear in the last 3 years	Public only	79.7	89.8	11%
Deaths per 1,000 adult hospital admissions with pneumonia	Medicaid	21.2	19.1	11%
Deaths per 1,000 adult hospital admissions with congestive heart failure	Medicare	17.5	15.7	11%
Adults age 40 and over with diagnosed diabetes who received a flu vaccination in the calendar year	Public only	62.9	71.2	12%
Women under age 70 treated for breast cancer with breast-conserving surgery who received radiation therapy to the breast within 1 year of diagnosis	Public only	82.8	95.2	13%
Adults who received a blood cholesterol measurement in the last 5 years	Public only	71.1	82.6	14%
Adults age 40 and over with diagnosed diabetes who had their feet checked for sores or irritation in the calendar year	Medicare and other public	71.9	84.7	15%
Adults age 65 and over who ever received pneumococcal vaccination	Medicare and public	61.4	72.5	15%
Adults age 40 and over with diagnosed diabetes who had their feet checked for sores or irritation in the calendar year	Public only	71.4	84.7	16%
Deaths per 1,000 hospital admissions with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), age 40 and over	Medicare	14.7	12.7	16%
Deaths per 1,000 adult hospital admissions with acute myocardial infarction (AMI)	Medicaid	47.7	41.1	16%
Adults age 40 and over with diagnosed diabetes who received a dilated eye examination in the calendar year	Medicare only	66.5	82.8	20%
Adults age 65 and over who received an influenza vaccination in the last 12 months	Medicare only	61.1	77.1	21%
Women ages 50-74 who received a mammogram in the last 2 years	Medicare only	69.1	87.9	21%
Adults age 65 and over who ever received pneumococcal vaccination	Medicare only	56.8	72.5	22%
Women ages 50-74 who received a mammogram in the last 2 years	Medicare and public	67.8	87.9	23%
Reclosure of postoperative abdominal wound dehiscence per 1,000 abdominopelvic-surgery admissions of length 2 or more days, adults	Medicare	1.36	1.10	24%
Women ages 50-74 who received a mammogram in the last 2 years	Public only	66.4	87.9	24%
Postoperative sepsis per 1,000 elective-surgery admissions of length 4 or more days, adults	Medicare	14.9	11.8	26%
Adults age 40 and over with diagnosed diabetes who received a dilated eye examination in the calendar year	Medicare and other public	58.0	82.8	30%
Adults age 40 and over with diagnosed diabetes who received a dilated eye examination in the calendar year	Public only	54.8	82.8	34%
Deaths per 1,000 hospital admissions with coronary artery bypass surgery, age 40 and over	Medicare	18.7	13.7	36%
Deaths per 1,000 hospital admissions with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), age 40 and over	Medicaid	18.3	12.7	44%

Measures That Are Far From Benchmark

Measure	Population	Estimate	Benchmark	Distance to Benchmark
Birth trauma - injury to neonate per 1,000 selected live births	Medicaid	2.00	1.27	57%
Deaths per 1,000 hospital admissions with coronary artery bypass surgery, age 40 and over	Medicaid	22.3	13.7	63%
Postoperative sepsis per 1,000 elective-surgery admissions of length 4 or more days, adults	Medicaid	19.2	11.8	63%
Reclosure of postoperative abdominal wound dehiscence per 1,000 abdominopelvic-surgery admissions of length 2 or more days, adults	Medicaid	2.38	1.10	117%
Hospital admissions with iatrogenic pneumothorax per 1,000 medical and surgical admissions, adults	Medicaid	0.90	0.31	186%
Hospital admissions with iatrogenic pneumothorax per 1,000 medical and surgical admissions, adults	Medicare	0.96	0.31	205%

Measures With No Available Benchmark Information

Measure	Population	Estimate	Benchmark	Distance to Benchmark
People under age 65 with any period of uninsurance during the year	Public only	21.0
People with a specific source of ongoing care	Public only	93.0
People with a specific source of ongoing care	Medicare and public	95.8
People with a specific source of ongoing care	Medicare only	94.9
Adults who had a doctor's office or clinic visit in the last 12 months and needed care, tests, or treatment who sometimes or never found it easy to get the care, tests, or treatment	Public only	17.9
Adults who had a doctor's office or clinic visit in the last 12 months and needed care, tests, or treatment who sometimes or never found it easy to get the care, tests, or treatment	Medicare only	4.70
Adults who had a doctor's office or clinic visit in the last 12 months and needed care, tests, or treatment who sometimes or never found it easy to get the care, tests, or treatment	Medicare and other public	6.50
Children who had a doctor's office or clinic visit in the last 12 months and needed care, tests, or treatment who sometimes or never found it easy to get the care, tests, or treatment	Public only	10.00
Adults who needed to see a specialist in the last 12 months who sometimes or never found it easy to see a specialist	Medicare only	10.5
Adults who needed to see a specialist in the last 12 months who sometimes or never found it easy to see a specialist	Medicare and other public	11.1
Children who needed to see a specialist in the last 12 months who sometimes or never found it easy to see a specialist	Public only	22.4
Children who needed care right away for an illness, injury, or condition in the last 12 months who sometimes or never got care as soon as needed	Public only	5.30
Admissions with central venous catheter-related bloodstream infection per 1,000 medical and surgical discharges of length 2 or more days, age 18 and over or obstetric admissions	Medicare	0.73
Admissions with central venous catheter-related bloodstream infection per 1,000 medical and surgical discharges of length 2 or more days, age 18 and over or obstetric admissions	Medicaid	1.15
Adults age 65 and over who received in the calendar year at least 1 of 33 potentially inappropriate prescription medications for older adults	Medicare only	9.10
Adults age 65 and over who received in the calendar year at least 1 of 33 potentially inappropriate prescription medications for older adults	Medicare and other public	16.9
Postoperative hemorrhage or hematoma with surgical drainage or evacuation per 1,000 surgical hospital discharges, adults	Medicare	2.45
Postoperative hemorrhage or hematoma with surgical drainage or evacuation per 1,000 surgical hospital discharges, adults	Medicaid	2.58
Postoperative physiologic and metabolic derangements per 1,000 elective surgical hospital discharges, adults	Medicare	1.37
Postoperative physiologic and metabolic derangements per 1,000 elective surgical hospital discharges, adults	Medicaid	2.33
Hospital admissions for perforated appendix per 1,000 admissions with appendicitis, adults	Medicare	333.4
Hospital admissions for perforated appendix per 1,000 admissions with appendicitis, adults	Medicaid	312.1
Hospital admissions for perforated appendix per 1,000 admissions with appendicitis, children	Medicare	274.8
Hospital admissions for perforated appendix per 1,000 admissions with appendicitis, children	Medicaid	381.0
Postoperative pulmonary embolism (PE) or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) per 1,000 surgical hospital discharges, adults	Medicare	7.47
Postoperative pulmonary embolism (PE) or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) per 1,000 surgical hospital discharges, adults	Medicaid	9.95
Postoperative respiratory failure per 1,000 elective surgical hospital discharges, adults	Medicare	6.64
Postoperative respiratory failure per 1,000 elective surgical hospital discharges, adults	Medicaid	8.04
Deaths per 1,000 adult hospital admissions with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair	Medicare	27.9
Deaths per 1,000 adult hospital admissions with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair	Medicaid	36.5
Postoperative hip fracture per 1,000 surgical admissions who were not susceptible to falling, adults	Medicare	0.22
Postoperative hip fracture per 1,000 surgical admissions who were not susceptible to falling, adults	Medicaid	0.08
Adults who had a doctor's office or clinic visit in the last 12 months whose health providers sometimes or never listened carefully to them	Public only	13.7
Adults who had a doctor's office or clinic visit in the last 12 months whose health providers sometimes or never listened carefully to them	Medicare only	4.90
Adults who had a doctor's office or clinic visit in the last 12 months whose health providers sometimes or never listened carefully to them	Medicare and other public	10.2
Children who had a doctor's office or clinic visit in the last 12 months whose health providers sometimes or never listened carefully	Public only	5.80
Accidental puncture or laceration during procedure per 1,000 medical and surgical admissions, adults	Medicare	2.90
Accidental puncture or laceration during procedure per 1,000 medical and surgical admissions, adults	Medicaid	3.21
Adults who had a doctor's office or clinic visit in the last 12 months whose health providers sometimes or never explained things in a way they could understand	Public only	12.1
Adults who had a doctor's office or clinic visit in the last 12 months whose health providers sometimes or never explained things in a way they could understand	Medicare only	6.20
Adults who had a doctor's office or clinic visit in the last 12 months whose health providers sometimes or never explained things in a way they could understand	Medicare and other public	11.3
Children who had a doctor's office or clinic visit in the last 12 months whose health providers sometimes or never explained things in a way they or their parents could understand	Public only	5.10
Accidental puncture or laceration during procedure per 1,000 medical and surgical admissions, children	Medicaid	0.56
Adults who had a doctor's office or clinic visit in the last 12 months whose health providers sometimes or never showed respect for what they had to say	Public only	12.8
Adults who had a doctor's office or clinic visit in the last 12 months whose health providers sometimes or never showed respect for what they had to say	Medicare only	4.00
Adults who had a doctor's office or clinic visit in the last 12 months whose health providers sometimes or never showed respect for what they had to say	Medicare and other public	6.90
Children ages 2-19 with hospital emergency department visit for asthma per 10,000 population	Public	144.1
Deaths per 1,000 elective-surgery admissions having developed specified complications of care during hospitalization, ages 18-89 or obstetric admissions	Medicare	114.4
Deaths per 1,000 elective-surgery admissions having developed specified complications of care during hospitalization, ages 18-89 or obstetric admissions	Medicaid	121.9
Children who had a doctor's office or clinic visit in the last 12 months whose health providers sometimes or never showed respect for what they or their parents had to say	Public only	4.60
Adults who had a doctor's office or clinic visit in the last 12 months whose health providers sometimes or never spent enough time with them	Public only	16.9
Adults who had a doctor's office or clinic visit in the last 12 months whose health providers sometimes or never spent enough time with them	Medicare only	5.60
Adults who had a doctor's office or clinic visit in the last 12 months whose health providers sometimes or never spent enough time with them	Medicare and other public	10.00
Children ages 2-9 with hospital emergency department visit for asthma per 10,000 population	Public	176.2
Children ages 10-19 with hospital emergency department visit for asthma per 10,000 population	Public	107.6
Deaths per 1,000 hospital admissions with expected low-mortality	Medicare	0.29
Deaths per 1,000 hospital admissions with expected low-mortality	Medicaid	0.39
Children who had a doctor's office or clinic visit in the last 12 months whose health providers sometimes or never spent enough time with them	Public only	7.10
Rating of health care 0-6 on a scale from 0 to 10 (best grade) by adults who had a doctor's office or clinic visit in the last 12 months	Public only	24.3
Rating of health care 0-6 on a scale from 0 to 10 (best grade) by adults who had a doctor's office or clinic visit in the last 12 months	Medicare only	8.30
Rating of health care 0-6 on a scale from 0 to 10 (best grade) by adults who had a doctor's office or clinic visit in the last 12 months	Medicare and other public	13.9
Rating of health care 0-6 on a scale from 0 to 10 (best grade) for children who had a doctor's office or clinic visit in the last 12 months	Public only	6.50
Adults with limited English proficiency and usual source of care (USC) who had assistance	Public only	80.8
Adults with limited English proficiency and usual source of care (USC) by whether the USC had language assistance	Medicare and other public	87.0
Adults with limited English proficiency who had usual source of care (USC)	Public only	79.1
Adults with limited English proficiency who had a usual source of care	Medicare and other public	95.7
Adults age 65 and over who received in the calendar year at least 1 of 11 prescription medications that should be avoided in older adults	Medicare only	1.40
Adults who had any appointments for routine health care in the last 12 months who sometimes or never got an appointment for routine care as soon as needed	Public only	19.9
Adults who had any appointments for routine health care in the last 12 months who sometimes or never got an appointment for routine care as soon as needed	Medicare only	8.00
Adults who had any appointments for routine health care in the last 12 months who sometimes or never got an appointment for routine care as soon as needed	Medicare and other public	9.70
People in fair or poor health with a specific source of ongoing care	Public only	93.3
People in fair or poor health with a specific source of ongoing care	Medicare and public	95.6
People in fair or poor health with a specific source of ongoing care	Medicare only	96.8
Adults who needed to see a specialist in the last 12 months who sometimes or never found it easy to see a specialist	Public only	28.0
Children who had any appointments for routine health care in the last 12 months who sometimes or never got an appointment for routine care as soon as needed	Public only	8.70
Adults who needed care right away for an illness, injury, or condition in the last 12 months who sometimes or never got care as soon as needed	Public only	23.1
Adults who needed care right away for an illness, injury, or condition in the last 12 months who sometimes or never got care as soon as needed	Medicare only	6.70
Adults with obesity who do not now spend half an hour or more in moderate or vigorous physical activity at least five times a week	Public only	64.2
Adults with obesity who do not now spend half an hour or more in moderate or vigorous physical activity at least five times a week	Medicare only	64.9
Adults with obesity who do not now spend half an hour or more in moderate or vigorous physical activity at least five times a week	Medicare and other public	75.3
Children ages 2-17 for whom a health provider gave advice within the past 2 years about the amount and kind of exercise, sports, or physically active hobbies they should have	Public only	39.5
Adults with obesity who ever received advice from a health professional about eating fewer high-fat or high-cholesterol foods	Public only	51.5
Adults with obesity who ever received advice from a health professional about eating fewer high-fat or high-cholesterol foods	Medicare only	61.5
Adults with obesity who ever received advice from a health professional about eating fewer high-fat or high-cholesterol foods	Medicare and other public	74.1
Children ages 2-17 for whom a health provider gave advice within the past 2 years about eating healthy	Public only	57.4
Children ages 2 -17 who had a dental visit in the calendar year	Public only	48.5
Adult patients with HIV and CD4 count less than 200 who received Pneumocystis pneumonia prophylaxis	Medicaid	91.8
Adult patients with HIV and CD4 count less than 200 who received Pneumocystis pneumonia prophylaxis	Medicare/dual eligible	90.4
Children ages 6 months to 17 years who ever received influenza vaccination	Public only	55.1
Children who had their height and weight measured by a health provider within the past 2 years	Public only	93.2
Children for whom a health provider gave advice within the past 2 years about how smoking in the house can be bad for a child	Public only	52.2
Children ages 3-6 who ever had their vision checked by a health provider	Public only	70.4
Children ages 3-5 who ever had their vision checked by a health provider	Public only	60.8
Adults with chronic joint symptoms who have ever seen a doctor or other health professional for joint symptoms	Public	79.6
Adults with chronic joint symptoms who have ever seen a doctor or other health professional for joint symptoms	Medicare and public	88.6
Adults with chronic joint symptoms who have ever seen a doctor or other health professional for joint symptoms	Medicare only	84.2
Children 0-40 lbs for whom a health provider gave advice within the past 2 years about using a child safety seat while riding in the car	Public only	62.6
Adults who received a blood pressure measurement in the last 2 years and can state whether their blood pressure was normal or high	Public only	91.7
Adults who received a blood pressure measurement in the last 2 years and can state whether their blood pressure was normal or high	Medicare and public	93.0
Adults who received a blood pressure measurement in the last 2 years and can state whether their blood pressure was normal or high	Medicare only	92.8
Children 41-80 lbs for whom a health provider gave advice within the past 2 years about using a booster seat when riding in the car	Public only	36.0
Children over 80 lbs for whom a health provider gave advice within the past 2 years about using lap or shoulder belts when riding in a car	Public only	30.8
Persons with current asthma who received written asthma management plans from their healthcare provider	Public	42.1
Persons with current asthma who received written asthma management plans from their healthcare provider	Medicare and public	39.1
Persons with current asthma who received written asthma management plans from their healthcare provider	Medicare only	45.9
Adults ages 18 and over who ever received influenza vaccination	Public only	41.9
Adults ages 18 and over who received influenza vaccination	Medicare only	68.9
Children ages 2-17 for whom a health provider gave advice within the past 2 years about using a helmet when riding a bicycle or motorcycle	Public only	31.9
Children ages 10-17 with wellness checkup in the past 12 months	Public	73.6
Persons with current asthma who received education about appropriate response to an asthma episode	Public	68.0
Persons with current asthma who received education about appropriate response to an asthma episode	Medicare and public	56.1
Persons with current asthma who received education about appropriate response to an asthma episode	Medicare only	62.9
Persons with current asthma who were advised to change things to reduce exposure to irritants	Public	49.1
Persons with current asthma who were advised to change things to reduce exposure to irritants	Medicare and public	34.7
Persons with current asthma who were advised to change things to reduce exposure to irritants	Medicare only	35.8
Children ages 0-17 who had a wellness checkup in the last 12 months	Public	84.7
Children ages 0-17 who had a wellness checkup in the last 12 months	Public only	84.6
Adult current smokers with a checkup in the last 12 months who received advice to quit smoking	Public only	72.6
People under age 65 whose family's health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenditures were more than 10% of total family income	Public only	12.1
Adults with obesity who ever received advice from a health professional to exercise more	Public only	67.2
Adults with obesity who ever received advice from a health professional to exercise more	Medicare only	66.1
Adults with obesity who ever received advice from a health professional to exercise more	Medicare and other public	74.3