Well-Child Visits in the First 30 Months of Life (W30)

This measure assesses the percentage of members who had the following number of well-child visits with a PCP during the last 15 months. The following rates are reported:

1. Well-Child Visits in the First 15 Months. Children who turned 15 months old during the measurement year: Six or more well-child visits.
2. Well-Child Visits for Age 15 Months–30 Months. Children who turned 30 months old during the measurement year: Two or more well-child visits.

Why It Matters?

This measure is based on the American Academy of Pediatrics Bright Futures guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children and Adolescents.¹ In addition to the Bright Futures Guidelines, the AAP publishes a recommended schedule of screenings and assessments, known as the periodicity schedule, that outlines what to do at every visit, from infancy to adolescence.² Bright Futures recommends more frequent well-child visits in the first years of life and one or more annual well-child visits from age 3–21. They recommend that the well-child visits include, but are not limited to, an initial/interval medical history, physical exam, developmental assessment, immunization and anticipatory guidance.

A total of eight well-care visits is recommended from the time the child is born to the time they reach 15 months old. The visits that occur before the 15-month birthday are of particular importance because this is the period when an infant undergoes substantial changes in abilities, physical growth, motor skills, hand-eye coordination and social and emotional growth. They are foundational to preventive health care, such as evidence-based screenings and immunizations, because they promote better social, developmental and health outcomes.³

The AAP/Bright Futures guidelines also recommend two or more visits between 15 months and 30 months, an important period for early assessment and screenings. Early identification of developmental disorders is critical to the well-being of children and their families. It is an integral function of the primary care medical home and an appropriate responsibility of all pediatric health care professionals.³ Research shows that early intervention treatment services can greatly improve a child’s development. Early intervention services help children from birth through 3 years of age (36 months) learn important skills.

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.