Hospitalization for Potentially Preventable Complications (HPC)

Assesses hospital inpatient admissions and observation stays due to complications of ambulatory care-sensitive conditions (ACSC) among Medicare members 67 years of age and older. Health plans report observed ACSC hospitalization rates and expected ACSC hospitalization rates that take the member’s health history into account. Rates are used to calculate a calibrated observed-to-expected ratio of hospitalizations for potentially preventable complications of ACSC that assesses whether plans had more, the same or less hospitalizations than expected, while accounting for incremental improvements across all plans over time. The observed-to-expected ratio is multiplied by the hospitalization rate across all health plans to produce a risk-standardized rate which allows for national comparison.

Why it Matters

ACSCs can be acute (bacterial pneumonia, cellulitis, urinary tract infection, pressure ulcer) or chronic (diabetes, COPD, asthma, hypertension, heart failure). Hospital stays account for a large component of total health care costs for older adults and poses several risks, such as delirium, infection and decline in functional ability.^1,2,3 Hospitalizations for complications of ACSC can be prevented with appropriate access to ambulatory care services, timely delivery of care and high-quality care coordination. Reducing the rate of hospitalization for older adults will improve patient health, reduce costs and improve quality of life.

Historical Results – National Averages

Performance results for this measure are currently unavailable. Visit our Quality Compass page to explore data licensing options and gain access to detailed performance results for this measure.