As state agencies expand their value-based purchasing activities across providers, services and populations, they are increasingly making use of quality measures that do not derive from the HEDIS measure set. Without national benchmarks available for these measures, it is difficult for states and regional health improvement collaboratives to assess, let alone reward, a provider’s, ACO’s, or MCO’s performance because there is no external reference for comparison. States – and regional health improvement collaboratives – may actively seek out measures other states are using hoping to find a benchmark.

The Buying Value Benchmark Repository suite of resources aims to support states and regional health improvement collaboratives in their measure selection and benchmarking efforts. The suite of resources consists of three primary tools –the Benchmark Repository Spreadsheet; the Measure Submission Survey; and the Online Forum – developed with advice from several state and regional health improvement collaboratives representatives.

The Buying Value Benchmark Repository Spreadsheet

The Buying Value Benchmark Repository Spreadsheet is a centralized source of non-HEDIS health care performance measures for which there are rarely national benchmarks available. It is for states and regional health improvement collaboratives to use for benchmarking purposes. States and regional health improvement collaboratives may also find the repository useful for measure selection.

The following measures are included in the Repository:

  • Homegrown measures and
  • Non-HEDIS measures that are not homegrown and for which benchmark data (e.g., through the CDC or CMS) are not available (e.g., the “Tobacco Use: Screening and Cessation Intervention” measure from CMS).

The data found in this repository were submitted by state organizations and regional health improvement collaboratives through the Buying Value Benchmark Repository Measure Submission Survey. While there is a quality control process in place before a measure is included in the spreadsheet, each entry has not been audited to ensure that data were collected or analyzed consistent with any regional, state, or national guidelines or reporting specifications.

The following information can be found within the Buying Value Benchmark Repository Spreadsheet:

  • Measure Name, NQF Number and Submitting Organization
  • Deviations from Measure Steward: Includes information about whether the state or regional health improvement collaborative modified the specifications from the measure steward and, if so, how. If not, the state or collaborative specified which release year of the specifications they utilized.
  • Measure Specifications: Includes a link to the specifications that the state and regional health improvement collaborative used only for modified measures, and not for measures implemented as written by the measure steward.
  • Risk Adjustment Methodology: Includes information about whether the measure was risk-adjusted and, if so, how.
  • Coverage Type: Includes measure taxonomies to describe the coverage type for the measured population (e.g., Medicaid, commercial).
  • Performance Level Reported to the Repository: Includes measure taxonomies that describe at which performance level the state or regional health improvement collaborative included a rate for the repository (e.g., state, health plan, ACO).
  • Statewide or Stratified Population: Includes information about whether the performance data are for the statewide population or a sub-population (only applicable if data are reported at the aggregated health plan, ACO, or provider-level).
  • Measure Use: Includes information about how the measure is primarily used (e.g., payment, public reporting, quality improvement).
  • Performance Period Data: Includes the start and end dates of the performance period, the denominator of the measured population, and the performance rate for up to three performance periods for each measure.
  • Contact Information: Includes the contact information (if provided) for the individual who can answer questions specifically related to the technical specifications or the policy context for each measure. This information is only accessible to state agencies and regional health improvement collaboratives and can be found directly on the Buying Value Benchmark Repository Online Forum website.

For more information on how to obtain benchmarks for measures not included in the Buying Value Benchmark Repository Spreadsheet, please refer to the FAQ section.

The Buying Value Benchmark Repository Spreadsheet will be reuploaded periodically. Please refer to the date below to check if you have the most recent version of the Buying Value Benchmark Repository Spreadsheet.

Repository Spreadsheet
Last Updated: April 14, 2023

The Buying Value Benchmark Repository Measure Submission Survey

The Buying Value Benchmark Repository Measure Submission Survey enables states and regional health improvement collaboratives to submit measures for inclusion in the Buying Value Benchmark Repository. The data that states and regional health improvement collaboratives submit will be incorporated in the Buying Value Benchmark Repository Spreadsheet.

While there is a PDF version of the Buying Value Benchmark Repository Measure Submission Survey to help states and regional health improvement collaboratives prepare their submission, all data needs to be entered through the online survey. States and regional health improvement collaboratives need to submit one response for each measure.

Online Measure Submission Survey PDF Version of Measure Submission Survey

The Buying Value Benchmark Repository Online Forum

The Buying Value Benchmark Repository Online Forum allows states and regional health improvement collaboratives to engage with one another about quality improvement initiatives, benchmarking, measure selection, measure application, long-term services and supports measures, measures in development and more.

Only states and regional health improvement collaboratives have the ability to utilize the Buying Value Benchmark Repository Online Forum at this time. States and regional health improvement collaboratives will need to register using an organization-specific email.

Buying Value Online Forum