On December 31, 2011, HHS issued a final notice of 26 health care quality measures for Medicaid-eligible adults. The quality measures will be used on a voluntary basis and are designed to provide state Medicaid programs, health insurers, and providers a tool for monitoring and evaluating the quality of care provided for adults eligible for Medicaid. Development of the quality measures is mandated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), which imposed a January 1, 2012, deadline for release. The measures were reported in the Federal Register on January 4, 2012.

CMS grouped the 26 quality measures into six health categories and, to the extent possible, aligned them with existing Federal reporting requirements: (1) Prevention and Health Promotion; (2) Management of Acute Conditions; (3) Management of Chronic Conditions; (4) Family Experience of Care (i.e., patient surveys); (5) Care Coordination; and (6) Availability (i.e., prenatal and postpartum care; alcohol or drug treatment).

The measures were developed through recommendations to CMS by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Subcommittee to the National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality, along with public comment....