This measure looks at the percentage of Medicaid members 5-64 years of age during the measurement year who were identified as having persistent asthma and were dispensed appropriate medications that they remained on during the treatment period.
Two rates are reported:
1. the percentage of members who remained on an asthma controller medication for at least 50% of their treatment period and
2. the percentage of members who remained on an asthma controller medication for at least 75% of the treatment period.
Appropriate medication adherence could ameliorate the severity of many asthma-related symptoms. According to the Asthma Regional Council, two-thirds of children and adults who display asthma symptoms are considered "not well controlled" or "very poorly controlled" as defined by clinical practice guidelines.
This measure can be broken out into many different age groups, but the rate reported here is the total of all age groups combined.
Last updated: August 2017
Author: DVHA Quality Unit