2021 Annual Report

Quality Results

In 2021, the ACO maintained 16 value-based contracts that required reporting on 85 unique quality measures. To track performance on a month-to-month basis, we selected 11 of these measures as overall markers of quality. We reported progress toward achieving these measures’ targets in what is known as the MaineHealth ACO Quality Heat Map. Below are results for Quality Heat Map measures that have been established for at least four years.

Target

Results

Breast Cancer Screening

Percentage of female patients ages 50-74 at the end of the measurement period and age <74 at the beginning of the measurement period, with an office visit in the last 12 months.

Target

Results

Colorectal Cancer Screening 

Percentage of patients ages 50-75 at the beginning of the measurement period, with an office visit in the last 12 months, with one or more screenings documented for colorectal cancer: colonoscopy in the last 10 years; flexible sigmoidoscopy in the last 5 years; computed tomography (CT) colonography in the last 5 years; fecal immunochemical DNA test (FIT-DNA) in the last 3 years; fecal occult blood test (FOBT) during the measurement period.

Target

Results

Depression Screening

2015 – 2020: Percentage of patients age >=18 at the beginning of the measurement period, with an office visit in the last 12 months, with a PHQ2 or PHQ9 documented in the last 12 months. 2021: Percentage of patients age >=12 at the beginning of the measurement period, with an office visit in the last 12 months, with a PHQ2 or PHQ9 documented in the last 12 months.

Target

Results

Diabetic Eye Exam 

Percentage of patients with Diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2), ages 18-75 at the beginning of the measurement period diagnosed, and having an office visit during the measurement period, with documentation of a retinal or dilated eye exam in the last 24 months or last 12 months for patients with retinopathy.

Target

Results

Diabetes Not Controlled (Lower percentage is better.)

Number of patients with Diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2), ages 18-75 at the beginning of the measurement period diagnosed, and having an office visit during the measurement period, whose most recent Hba1c in the last 12 months is > 9 or no Hba1c test was completed.

 Target

Results

Hypertension Controlled  

Percentage of patients with hypertension, ages 18-85 at the beginning of the measurement period diagnosed, with an office visit in the last 12 months, with blood pressure < 140/90.

Aileen Mickey, MD, MHA
President, MaineHealth Medical Group
Board Member, MaineHealth ACO
Commentary from Aileen Mickey, MD, MHA

Looking at six of the ACO’s highest impact quality measures, performance in 2021 showed signs of resuming the positive trajectory that was prevalent before the pandemic.

Although performance on some measures remained flat, improvement was noted for the depression screening process measure and the hypertension and diabetes control outcome measures. If the impact of the pandemic on primary care continues to decline, as it likely will unless another variant causes a major spike in cases, we can certainly expect a return to strong performance in other key measures like breast and colon cancer screenings. Rates of diabetic eye exams have historically been difficult to coax over the target. We are excited this year that several of our local health systems are implementing retinal imaging within primary care practices, thanks in part to a grant from the ACO.  Overall we remain extremely proud of all the care teams across the ACO who continue to provide high quality care in challenging times.



Aileen Mickey, MD, MHA
President, MaineHealth Medical Group
Board Member, MaineHealth ACO

Commentary from Aileen Mickey, MD, MHA

Looking at six of the ACO’s highest impact quality measures, performance in 2021 showed signs of resuming the positive trajectory that was prevalent before the pandemic.

Although performance on some measures remained flat, improvement was noted for the depression screening process measure and the hypertension and diabetes control outcome measures. If the impact of the pandemic on primary care continues to decline, as it likely will unless another variant causes a major spike in cases, we can certainly expect a return to strong performance in other key measures like breast and colon cancer screenings. Rates of diabetic eye exams have historically been difficult to coax over the target. We are excited this year that several of our local health systems are implementing retinal imaging within primary care practices, thanks in part to a grant from the ACO.  Overall we remain extremely proud of all the care teams across the ACO who continue to provide high quality care in challenging times.