Massachusetts Standard Quality Measure Set

Recommended by the Massachusetts Statewide Quality Advisory Committee

The Massachusetts Statewide Quality Advisory Committee (SQAC), which was established by Chapter 288 of the Acts of 2010 and reestablished by Chapter 224 of the Acts of 2012, is comprised of various experts in the health care industry and is tasked with recommending a Standard Quality Measure Set (SQMS).

The initial recommended SQMS included 130 measures. Each year the SQAC reviews and adjusts the measure set.

The SQMS covers a variety of clinical areas, such as preventive health, chronic disease management, pediatric, maternal and neonatal health, mental health, and substance abuse, and also includes the following measures mandated by the State Legislature:

• CMS hospital process measures for AMI, CHF, pneumonia and surgical infection prevention
• Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey (HCAHPS)
• Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®), and
• Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS, Patient Experience Survey)

Tufts Health Plan utilizes the SQMS in its quality initiatives, including when calculating a Top Quality Recognition for hospitals and physicians, the quality score used in determining provider tier placement for tiered products, as well as when defining quality incentives included in provider contracts.

For more information, please visit chiamass.gov/sqac.