Measurement & Evaluation

Each health plan in Taking on Diabetes agreed to participate in ongoing performance evaluation through the annual submission of data on diabetes-related performance measures. Because the goals of the initiative were tied to complex long-term health outcomes, i.e., the reduction of cardiovascular complications, amputations, onset of end stage renal disease, and vision loss, collecting quantitative data that capture the impact of the initiative represented a significant challenge. Taking on Diabetes identified measures of the care process and of short-term outcomes to serve as indicators of the overall direction of health outcomes for people with diabetes. These measures were consistent with the measures developed by the Diabetes Quality Improvement Project (DQIP) and used nationally by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) in their Health Plan Employers Data and Information Set (HEDIS). To collect useful qualitative information, Taking on Diabetes developed a baseline survey of health plan programs, benefits, and services. Survey data provides a longitudinal picture of health plan programs throughout the duration of the Initiative, and can be used to target future programs in support of the Initiative’s members.

Taking on Diabetes
601 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
South Building, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 778-3281
takingondiabetes@ahip.org