Assesses chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations for adults 40 years of age and older who had appropriate medication therapy to manage an exacerbation. A COPD exacerbation is defined as an inpatient or ED visit with a primary discharge diagnosis of COPD.
Why it Matters
Approximately 15 million adults in the United States have COPD, an irreversible disease that limits airflow to the lungs. COPD exacerbations or “flare-ups” make up a significant portion of the costs associated with the disease.¹ However, symptoms can be controlled with appropriate medication.²,³ Appropriate prescribing of medication following exacerbation can prevent future flare-ups and drastically reduce the costs of COPD.
Results – National Averages
Use of Systemic Corticosteroids
| Measure Year | Commercial HMO | Commercial PPO | Medicaid HMO | Medicare HMO | Medicare PPO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 77.2 | 73.7 | 70.8 | 73.7 | 75.8 |
| 2021 | 74.4 | 75 | 69.9 | 72.8 | 75.2 |
| 2020 | 73.9 | 72.0 | 68.9 | 73.0 | 73.3 |
| 2019 | 77.0 | 74.0 | 69.8 | § | § |
| 2018 | 75.4 | 74.3 | 71 | 68.4 | 72.7 |
| 2017 | 76.1 | 75 | 70.4 | 68.2 | 70.6 |
| 2016 | 70.5 | 69.1 | 67.5 | 65.9 | 68.6 |
| 2015 | 75.9 | 72.6 | 71.9 | 67.1 | 74.6 |
| 2014 | 75.4 | 72.9 | 71.8 | 65.3 | 72.5 |
| 2013 | 75.5 | 72.8 | 70.6 | 65.8 | 71.6 |
| 2012 | 73.5 | 70.8 | 69.1 | 65.4 | 69.8 |
| 2011 | 71.3 | 69.5 | 66.8 | 64.1 | 68.8 |
| 2010 | 69.8 | 66.2 | 66.6 | 65.3 | 69.6 |
| 2009 | 66.1 | 64.1 | 60.9 | 61.8 | 64.2 |
| 2008 | 67 | 58.2 | 60 | 61.7 | 60.8 |
Use of Bronchodilators
| Measure Year | Commercial HMO | Commercial PPO | Medicaid HMO | Medicare HMO | Medicare PPO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 83 | 80.5 | 83 | 84.6 | 80.9 |
| 2021 | 80.8 | 80.9 | 82.7 | 84.3 | 81.5 |
| 2020 | 80.0 | 78.8 | 81.9 | 83.2 | 79.1 |
| 2019 | 79.9 | 79.0 | 82.1 | § | § |
| 2018 | 79.8 | 79.4 | 80.6 | 81.4 | 76.8 |
| 2017 | 80.5 | 79.7 | 80.6 | 81.4 | 76.2 |
| 2016 | 76.6 | 75 | 78.9 | 80.6 | 74.1 |
| 2015 | 80.1 | 78.2 | 81.1 | 80 | 77 |
| 2014 | 80.7 | 77.6 | 80.9 | 79 | 77.6 |
| 2013 | 80.1 | 78.7 | 80.7 | 80.9 | 76.9 |
| 2012 | 80.8 | 77.7 | 80.4 | 81.5 | 76.8 |
| 2011 | 79.9 | 76.8 | 78.4 | 80.4 | 75.9 |
| 2010 | 77.8 | 73.5 | 78.2 | 82.1 | 76.1 |
| 2009 | 78 | 75 | 76.2 | 80.7 | 74.9 |
| 2008 | 76.1 | 68.1 | 74.1 | 78.2 | 71.3 |
§ Not available due to CMS suspension of data reporting during COVID-19 pandemic.
This State of Healthcare Quality Report classifies health plans differently than NCQA’s Quality Compass. HMO corresponds to All LOBs (excluding PPO and EPO) within Quality Compass. PPO corresponds to PPO and EPO within Quality Compass.
Figures do not account for changes in the underlying measure that could break trending. Contact Information Products via my.ncqa.org for analysis that accounts for trend breaks.
References
- Pasquale, M.K., S.X. Sun, F. Song, H.J. Hartnett, and S.A. Stemkowski. “Impact of exacerbations on health care cost and resource utilization in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with chronic bronchitis from a predominantly Medicare population.” International Journal of COPD 7:757-64. doi: 10.2147/COPD.S36997.
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. 2012. “Morbidity and Mortality: 2012 Chart Book on Cardiovascular, Lung, and Blood Diseases.”
- Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. 2014. “Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.”