• This measure was new to the Child Core Set in 2018. It replaces the Medication Management for People with Asthma measure , which was included in the 2013-2017 Child Core Sets.
• This is a Healthcare Effectiveness & Data Information Set (HEDIS®) administrative measure and only includes Medicaid Primary beneficiaries.
• The annual reported rate captures activity during the stated measurement year (MY).

The Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is a registered trademark of NCQA.

This measure looks at the percentage of members 5–64 years of age who were identified as having persistent asthma and had a ratio of controller medications to total asthma medications of 0.50 or greater during the measurement year. The Child Core Set asks states to report the rate for the subset of members 5-18 years of age (shown above). 

Medications for asthma are usually categorized into long-term controller medications used to achieve and maintain control of persistent asthma and quick-reliever medications used to treat acute symptoms and exacerbations. Appropriate ratios for these medications could potentially prevent a significant proportion of asthma-related costs (hospitalizations, emergency room visits, missed work and school days).

Last updated:  August 2021