Alcohol, Substance Use/Abuse

Percentage of adult (age 18 and older) U.S. population that currently smoke.

The percentage of patients 18 years and older with a serious mental illness, who were screened for unhealthy alcohol use and received brief counseling or other follow-up care if identified as an unhealthy alcohol user.

Note: The proposed health plan measure is adapted from an existing provider-level measure for the general population (NQF #2152: Preventive Care & Screening: Unhealthy Alcohol Use: Screening & Brief Counseling). It was originally endorsed in 2014 and is currently stewarded by the American Medical Association (AMA-PCPI).

The percentage of emergency department (ED) visits for members 13 years of age and older with a principal diagnosis of alcohol or other drug (AOD) abuse or dependence, who had a follow up visit for AOD. Two rates are reported:
- The percentage of ED visits for which the member received follow-up within 30 days of the ED visit (31 total days).
- The percentage of ED visits for which the member received follow-up within 7 days of the ED visit (8 total days).

The percentage of emergency department (ED) visits for members 6 years of age and older with a principal diagnosis of mental illness or intentional self-harm, who had a follow-up visit for mental illness. Two rates are reported:
- The percentage of ED visits for which the member received follow-up within 30 days of the ED visit (31 total days).
- The percentage of ED visits for which the member received follow-up within 7 days of the ED visit (8 total days).

The percentage of discharges for patients 18 years of age and older who had a visit to the emergency department with a primary diagnosis of mental health or alcohol or other drug dependence during the measurement year AND who had a follow-up visit with any provider with a corresponding primary diagnosis of mental health or alcohol or other drug dependence within 7- and 30-days of discharge.

Four rates are reported:
- The percentage of emergency department visits for mental health for which the patient received follow-up within 7 days of discharge.

The Patient Activation Measure® (PAM®) is a 10 or 13 item questionnaire that assesses an individual´s knowledge, skill and confidence for managing their health and health care. The measure assesses individuals on a 0-100 scale. There are 4 levels of activation, from low (1) to high (4). The measure is not disease specific, but has been successfully used with a wide variety of chronic conditions, as well as with people with no conditions.

The proportion of patients, age greater than and equal to 1 year, admitted to a hospital-based inpatient psychiatric setting who are screened within the first three days of hospitalization for all of the following: risk of violence to self or others, substance use, psychological trauma history and patient strengths.

This measure assesses the degree to which the organization initiates and engages members identified with a need for alcohol and other drug (AOD) abuse and dependence services and the degree to which members initiate and continue treatment once the need has been identified. Two rates are reported:

Percentage of children/adolescents age =5 to =19 years-old seen in the emergency department with psychotic symptoms who are screened for alcohol or drugs of abuse

Percentage of patients aged 18 years and older who were screened for unhealthy alcohol use using a systematic screening method at least once within the last 24 months AND who received brief counseling if identified as an unhealthy alcohol user