Unhealthy Alcohol Use Screening and Follow-Up (ASF-E)*

This measure assesses the percentage of members 18 years of age and older who were screened for unhealthy alcohol use using a standardized instrument and, if screened positive, received appropriate follow-up care:

1. Unhealthy Alcohol Use Screening. The percentage of members who had a systematic screening for unhealthy alcohol use.
2. Alcohol Counseling or Other Follow-up Care. The percentage of members receiving brief counseling or other follow-up care within 2 months of screening positive for unhealthy alcohol use.

Why It Matters?

Excessive alcohol use leads to 178,000 deaths each year in the United States, but only 7.8% of adults with an alcohol use disorder received treatment in 2022.^1,2 Alcohol misuse can lead to chronic conditions such as cancer or cirrhosis of the liver, and is connected to neurological, social and behavioral health issues.³ Screening for alcohol misuse and timely follow-up after a positive screening is crucial. The Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment model has shown to be an effective and cost-efficient way to identify or halt alcohol misuse in adults.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s (USPSTF) grade B recommendation is “screening for unhealthy alcohol use in primary care settings in adults 18 years or older, including pregnant women, and providing persons engaged in risky or hazardous drinking with brief behavioral counseling interventions to reduce unhealthy alcohol use.”⁴ The USPSTF identified two standardized and validated screening tools for alcohol misuse in the primary care setting: The abbreviated Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test–Consumption (AUDIT-C) and the Single Alcohol Screening Question (SASQ). The USPSTF found that counseling interventions in the primary care setting can reduce weekly alcohol consumption and improve long-term adherence to recommended drinking limits. Screening and brief counseling interventions are also associated with better health outcomes, such as decreasing the probability of traumatic injury or death, especially related to motor vehicles, by decreasing the proportion of persons who engage in episodes of heavy drinking which results in high blood alcohol concentration.

*Adapted with financial support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and with permission from the measure developer, the American Medical Association (AMA).

Historical Results – National Averages

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.