The HEDIS Medication Management for People with Asthma Measure is Not Related to Improved Asthma Outcomes

J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2015 Jul-Aug;3(4):547-52. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2015.02.002. Epub 2015 Mar 7.

Abstract

Background: A new Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) asthma quality-of-care measure designed to quantify patient adherence to asthma controller medication has been implemented. The relationship between this measure and asthma outcomes is unknown.

Objective: To examine the relationship between the HEDIS Medication Management for people with Asthma (MMA) measure and asthma outcomes.

Methods: Administrative data identified 30,040 patients who met HEDIS criteria for persistent asthma during 2012. These patients were classified as compliant or noncompliant with the MMA measure at the 75% and 50% threshold, respectively. The association between MMA compliance in 2012 and asthma outcomes in 2013 was determined.

Results: Patients who were 75% or 50% MMA compliant in 2012 showed no clinically meaningful difference in asthma-related hospitalizations, emergency department visits, or rescue inhaler dispensing in 2013 compared with those who were noncompliant. Stepwise comparison of patients who were 75% or more, 50% to 74%, and less than 50% MMA compliant showed no meaningful difference in asthma outcomes between groups.

Conclusions: Compliance with the HEDIS MMA measure is not related to improvement in the asthma outcomes assessed (rescue inhaler dispensing, asthma-coded hospitalizations, or asthma-coded emergency department visits).

Keywords: Asthma; HEDIS; Quality measures.

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / statistics & numerical data
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Patient Compliance
  • Quality of Health Care*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents