Agencies in the nine states participating in CMS’ upcoming value-based purchasing payment model should compare their scores on value-based purchasing measures with their state’s median scores.
 
The latest Home Health Compare data, released in October, represent scores from the second quarter of 2014 through the first quarter of 2015. Although the data are several quarters behind the 2015 baseline that will ultimately provide the minimum scores necessary for earning “achievement” points, scores rarely change significantly from quarter to quarter, notes Seattle-based OCS HomeCare by National Research Corporation.
 
The data below are the medians for “larger” agencies, defined as those having HHCAHPS results in the Home Health Compare database.
 
Note: The final 2016 PPS rule states that agencies will be measured only on care provided to Medicare beneficiaries within the agency’s state. Home Health Compare data currently include all Medicare and Medicaid patients cared for by agencies.
 
 
Arizona
Florida
Iowa
Massachusetts
Maryland
North Carolina
Nebraska
Tennessee
Wash.
Flu vaccine
74%
68%
78%
75%
77%
75%
82%
76%
76%
Pneumococcal vaccine
75%
68%
84%
73%
77%
76%
86%
78%
78%
Medication education
96%
97%
94%
97%
95%
95%
97%
94%
91%
Oral medication management
52%
54%
45%
53%
56%
49%
47%
53%
49%
Pain
65%
73%
65%
69%
70%
66%
66%
65%
62%
Transferring
60%
61%
55%
59%
61%
59%
58%
58%
57%
Ambulation/locomotion
62%
66%
58%
62%
66%
61%
58%
65%
59%
Bathing
70%
73%
64%
65%
69%
63%
66%
68%
65%
Dyspnea
71%
68%
64%
67%
75%
69%
67%
66%
68%
Emergency department use without hospitalization
13%
10%
14%
12%
11%
14%
11%
13%
14%
Hospitalization
14%
16%
16%
17%
16%
16%
16%
17%
15%
Communication domain
85%
86%
87%
86%
86%
88%
86%
88%
84%
Professional domain
87%
89%
89%
89%
88%
90%
88%
91%
87%
Specific care issues domain
81%
83%
87%
85%
83%
86%
85%
85%
80%
Overall satisfaction
81%
85%
86%
85%
83%
87%
84%
87%
80%
Would definitely recommend
77%
80%
83%
83%
79%
82%
79%
84%
78%
Source: OCS HomeCare by National Research Corporation, Seattle