Advancing Quality Measurement in Behavioral Health

Quality measures are standards for measuring the performance of healthcare providers, processes, and structures. Quality measurement aims to ensure high quality care is delivered for consumers of healthcare, their families and caregivers, and populations broadly.

The mission of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) is to lead public health and service delivery efforts that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and provide treatments and supports to foster recovery while ensuring equitable access and better outcomes. To that end, SAMHSA is working to advance the options for quality measurement in behavioral health, including for mental health, substance misuse, and recovery services.

Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Quality Measures

SAMHSA has assumed stewardship and maintenance of three substance use disorder measures, which were developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) under its previous Innovation Accelerator Program. Each of these measures currently are endorsed by the Consensus Based Entity (CBE) for quality measurement, the Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM).

Continuity of care after medically-managed withdrawal from alcohol and/or drugs (CBE #3312)
Use of pharmacotherapy for opioid use disorder (CBE #3400)
Continuity of care after inpatient or residential treatment for substance use disorder (CBE #3453)

Continuity of Care After Medically-Managed Withdrawal from Alcohol and/or Drugs (CBE #3312): The Continuity of Care After Medically-managed Withdrawal from Alcohol and/or Drugs measure evaluates the percentage of discharges from a medically managed withdrawal episode for adult Medicaid beneficiaries, ages 18–64, that were followed by a treatment service for substance use disorder (including the prescription or receipt of a medication to treat a substance use disorder [pharmacotherapy]) within 7 or 14 days after discharge.

Use of Pharmacotherapy for Opioid Use Disorder (CBE #3400): The Use of Pharmacotherapy for Opioid Use Disorder measure evaluates the percentage of Medicaid or Medicare-Medicaid participants, aged 18 years and older, who have been diagnosed with an opioid use disorder (OUD) who filled a prescription for, were administered, or dispensed, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medication to treat or manage OUD during the measurement year. The measure reports five rates. The first rate represents the percentage of participants who appropriately receive any medication for the treatment of OUD. The subsequent four rates track each medication for OUD treatment independently (i.e., buprenorphine; oral naltrexone; long-acting, injectable naltrexone; and methadone).

Continuity of Care After Inpatient or Residential Treatment for Substance Use Disorder (CBE #3453): The Continuity of Care After Inpatient or Residential Treatment for Substance Use Disorder measure evaluates the percentage of discharges from inpatient or residential treatment for diagnoses of substance use disorders (SUD) among Medicaid or Medicare-Medicaid beneficiaries, aged 18 years and older, which were followed by a treatment service for SUD. Two rates are reported, continuity within 7 and 14 days after discharge.

For More Information

For technical assistance related to the three substance use disorder measures on this webpage, please reach out to SAMHSAQualityMeasures@rti.org.

Behavioral Health Clinic Quality Measures

For the Behavioral Health Clinic Quality Measures that are used by the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), please go to SAMHSA CCBHC Quality Measures Guidance and Webinar Series webpage.

Last Updated: 01/17/2025