Quality Insights: Clinical Quality in Primary Care

Massachusetts Statewide Rates
and National Benchmarks

Massachusetts map

This report shows results for how primary care doctors provide their patients preventive care services such as colon cancer screening, and chronic disease care, such as diabetes control. These measures are evidence-based (researched) and recognized nationwide. MHQP reports this information for over 150 medical groups across the state.

The table below presents the different categories and measures of care included in this report and shows how well Massachusetts doctors perform statewide (MA Statewide Rate) when compared to the nation. The Massachusetts Statewide Rate is the percent of people who received the care or service described for a measure out of all the people who should have received that care or service.

Statewide, Massachusetts physicians excel, performing above the national average on 29 of 31 measures. On 14 out of 31 measures they score above the NCQA national 90th percentile.

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Clinical Measure

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 MA Statewide Rate Nat'l 90th Percentile Nat'l
Average
Adult Diagnostic and Preventive Care
High Blood Pressure Control * 71.3% 74.1% 63.4%
Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests (Ages 50 to 75) 78.1% 74.2% 62.6%
Using Imaging Tests for Lower Back Pain Only When Appropriate 78.4% 82.0% 74.2%
Spirometry Test for COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) 44.0% 52.2% 41.7%
Depression
Short-term Medication 68.8% 73.5% 64.7%
Long-term Medication 53.1% 56.7% 48.3%
Medication Management
Correct Use of Antibiotics for Acute Bronchitis ** 24.0% 31.6% 22.5%
Yearly Follow-up to Monitor Patients on Long-Term ACE Inhibitors or ARBs 84.1% 86.5% 81.6%
Yearly Follow-up to Monitor Patients on Long-Term Anticonvulsant Medication 68.0% 70.0% 60.4%
Yearly Follow-up to Monitor Patients on Long-Term Diuretics 83.9% 86.1% 81.0%
Yearly Follow-up to Monitor Patients on Long-Term Medication 83.6% 85.9% 80.9%
Asthma Care
Medications for Children (Ages 5 to 11) 97.5% 99.2% 96.7%
Medications for Adults (Ages 12 to 50) 89.5% 95.0% 91.8%
Heart Disease and Cholesterol Management
Cholesterol (LDL-C) Good Control * 70.9% 72.0% 59.9%
Cholesterol Screening Test for Cardiovascular Disease 92.4% 93.7% 88.9%
Diabetes Care for Adults
Cholesterol (LDL-C) Good Control * 56.1% 57.2% 47.7%
Cholesterol (LDL-C) Screening Test 91.4% 91.0% 85.6%
HbA1c -- Poor Blood Sugar Control (Lower score is better) * 15.4% 16.8% 27.3%
HbA1c Test 93.9% 94.2% 89.9%
Tests to Monitor Kidney Disease 89.6% 89.6% 83.6%
Blood Pressure Control * 74.6% 75.9% 65.7%
Well-Child Visits
Well Visits for Children 0 to 15 Months of Age 94.2% 89.6% 76.3%
Well Visits for Children Ages 3 to 6 92.8% 84.5% 71.6%
Well Visits for Adolescents Ages 12 to 21 74.1% 60.2% 42.7%
Pediatric Medications and Testing
Follow-up with Children Starting Medication for ADHD 47.7% 49.0% 38.8%
Correct Testing for Strep Throat (Pharyngitis) 93.4% 90.5% 77.6%
Correct Antibiotic Use for Upper Respiratory Infections 94.9% 94.5% 85.1%
Women's Health
Breast Cancer Screening (Ages 40 to 69) 83.2% 79.5% 70.8%
Cervical Cancer Screening (Ages 21 to 64) 86.7% 83.2% 77.0%
Chlamydia Screening (Ages 16 to 20) 60.2% 53.9% 40.8%
Chlamydia Screening (Ages 21 to 24) 63.7% 61.4% 45.7%

* This measure rate is based on a review of a sample of patients statewide and is not available for individual medical groups. For more information about these measures, please see Questions and Answers.

** MHQP reports only statewide results for this measure due to concerns that it does not always capture prescribing of antibiotics precisely enough to report medical group performance. See the measure description for additional information.

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