Table 3. Univariate Analysis of Effect of Practice Characteristics on Reported National Quality Forum Metrics Scores, Controlling for Measurement Year
CharacteristicsChronic Care Domain (n = 52)Preventive Care Domain (n = 52)Mental Health Care Domain (n = 46)
CoefficientP ValueCoefficientP ValueCoefficientP Value
Case mix
    High (ACG ≥2.5)−0.007.84−0.007.830.039.61
    Low (ACG <2.5)ReferenceReferenceReference
Practice type
    Pediatric0.10.160.07.31−0.07.35
    Mixed−0.05.190.03.52
    AdultReferenceReferenceReference
NCQA practice level
    Deemed level I0.03.46−0.06.150.21.03
    Level IIIReferenceReferenceReference
Shared savings eligibility
    30% share−0.16<.0001−0.01.74−0.09.10
    40% share−0.12.001−0.03.39−0.08.33
    50% shareReferenceReferenceReference
Rural (federal designation)
    Yes−0.05.06−0.10.02−0.07.31
    NoReferenceReferenceReference
Rural (use of telemedicine)
    Yes0.04.26−0.02.620.08.22
    NoReferenceReferenceReference
Health information exchange
    Yes0.03.490.02.700.09.42
    NoReferenceReferenceReference
Practice size (no. providers)
    1–50.00.98−0.14.02−0.02.85
    6–100.01.82−0.06.300.01.94
    ≥11ReferenceReferenceReference
Age ≥50 (mean %)
    High (top quartile: 0.444< and ≤0.722)0.08.06−0.01.860.20.04
    Medium (intermediate quartiles: 0.238< and ≤0.444)0.00.97−0.02.690.08.41
    Low (bottom quartile: ≤0.238)ReferenceReferenceReference
Medicaid patients (mean %)
    High (top quartile: 0.422< and ≤0.938)−0.02.700.03.63−0.18.08
    Medium (intermediate quartiles: 0.08< and ≤0.422)−0.06.16−0.03.51−0.17.02
    Low (bottom quartile: ≤0.08)ReferenceReferenceReference
Male patients (mean %)
    High (top quartile: 0.470< and ≤0.586)0.04.360.04.37−0.04.69
    Medium (intermediate quartiles: 0.3674< and ≤0.470)0.02.500.01.800.00.95
    Low (bottom quartile: ≤0.3674)ReferenceReferenceReference
Fixed transformation payment (2011)
    High (>4.68)−0.03.460.06.15−0.21.03
    Low (≤4.68)ReferenceReferenceReference
Inpatient length of stay (2011)
    High (top quartile: 280< and ≤622 per 1000)−0.05.230.02.620.00.97
    Medium (intermediate quartiles: 148< and ≤280 per 1000)−0.06.13−0.03.400.09.14
    Low (bottom quartile: ≤148 per 1000)ReferenceReferenceReference
Emergency department visits (2011)
    High (top quartile: 302.5< and≤702)0.06.17−0.003.950.09.29
    Medium (intermediate quartiles: 190< and ≤302.5 per 1000)0.03.40−0.01.750.00.97
    Low (bottom quartile: ≤190 per 1000)ReferenceReferenceReference
Readmission visits (2011)
    High (top quartile: ≤2.56 per 1000)−0.06.120.05.100.05.60
    Medium (Intermediate quartiles: 2.56< and ≤7.321 per 1000)−0.06.07−0.01.850.00.98
    Low (bottom quartile: 7.321< and ≤20.4 per 1000)ReferenceReferenceReference
  • ACG, adjusted clinical group; NCQA, National Committee for Quality Assurance. Bold values denote statistically significant values, at the 0.05 level.