Elderly

This measure assesses the percentage of COPD exacerbations for patients 40 years of age and older who had an acute inpatient discharge or ED visit on or between January 1-November 30 of the measurement year and who were dispensed appropriate medications. Two rates are reported:
1. Dispensed a systemic corticosteroid (or there was evidence of an active prescription) within 14 days of the event.
2. Dispensed a bronchodilator (or there was evidence of an active prescription) within 30 days of the event.

This measure assesses the percentage of COPD exacerbations for members 40 years of age and older who had an acute inpatient discharge or ED encounter on or between January 1–November 30 of the measurement year and who were dispensed appropriate medications.

Two rates are reported.
1. Dispensed a systemic corticosteroid within 14 days of the event
2. Dispensed a bronchodilator within 30 days of the event

This measure has two rates that assess the promotion of physical activity in older adults:

Discussing Physical Activity: Percentage patients 65 years of age and older who reported discussing their level of exercise or physical activity with a doctor or other health provider in the last 12 months

Advising Physical Activity: Percentage patients 65 years of age and older who reported receiving advice to start, increase, or maintain their level of exercise or physical activity from a doctor or other health provider in the last 12 months

Percentage of long-stay nursing home patients 65 years old or older who have a new balance problem who receive physical therapy or nursing rehabilitation/restorative care

For patients 18 years of age and older, the number of acute inpatient stays during the measurement year that were followed by an unplanned acute readmission for any diagnosis within 30 days and the predicted probability of an acute readmission. Data are reported in the following categories:

1. Count of Index Hospital Stays* (denominator)
2. Count of 30-Day Readmissions (numerator)
3. Average Adjusted Probability of Readmission

*An acute inpatient stay with a discharge during the first 11 months of the measurement year (e.g., on or between January 1 and December 1).

Percent of pneumonia patients, age 18 years or older, transferred or admitted to the ICU within 24 hours of hospital arrival who had blood cultures performed within 24 hours prior to or 24 hours after arrival at the hospital.

Inpatients age 65 years and older and 5-64 years of age who have a high risk condition who are screened for Pneumococcal Vaccine status and vaccinated prior to discharge if indicated.

Percentage of home health episodes of care during which patients were determined to have ever received Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPV).

Percentage of patients 65 years of age and older who ever received a pneumococcal vaccination.

In-hospital deaths per 1,000 hospital discharges with pneumonia as a principal diagnosis for patients ages 18 years and older. Excludes obstetric discharges and transfers to another hospital.

[NOTE: The software provides the rate per hospital discharge. However, common practice reports the measure as per 1,000 discharges. The user must multiply the rate obtained from the software by 1,000 to report in-hospital deaths per 1,000 hospital discharges.]