Diabetes is a chronic condition that requires constant management by patients and consistent support from clinical care teams. As there is a large variance in where patients receive care, it is important to have measurement standards that ensure that the provided care is effective, responsive, and comprehensive.
Diabetes has been a focus of quality performance measurement for many years. To assess the quality of care, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA), and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) led the first national effort to develop a set of performance measures for diabetes. As a result, the Glycemic Status Assessment for Patients With Diabetes (GSD) HEDIS measure evaluates the percentage of diabetic patients whose glycemic status was adequately controlled.
Here’s more about this HEDIS measure and its importance in closing care gaps and improving care for patients with diabetes.
About the GSD HEDIS measure
The NCQA updated the Hemoglobin A1c Control for Patients with Diabetes (HBD) measure for the 2024 measurement year. The measure was renamed Glycemic Status Assessment for Patients With Diabetes (GSD) and now includes a glucose management indicator (GMI) in addition to hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c).
The GSD HEDIS measure evaluates the percentage of members 18–75 years of age with diabetes (types 1 and 2) whose most recent glycemic status (hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] or glucose management indicator [GMI]) was at the following levels during the measurement year [1]:
- Glycemic Status <8.0%
- Glycemic Status >9.0%
A lower rate indicates better performance for this indicator, meaning that low rates of glycemic status > 9% indicate better care.
Why the GSD measure is important
The prevalence of diabetes continues to rise in the United States, placing an increasing burden on healthcare systems, payers, providers, and patients. Diabetes is a complex group of diseases marked by high blood glucose (blood sugar) due to the body’s inability to make or use insulin.
Proper disease management is vital to controlling blood glucose and reducing risks for complications. Without proper management, diabetes can lead to serious complications, including heart disease, stroke, hypertension, blindness, kidney disease, diseases of the nervous system, amputations, and premature death.
How LetsGetChecked can help meet the GSD measure
Hemoglobin A1c control remains a consistent quality measure across all value-based care programs, and therefore should be prioritized at health systems as part of patient outcomes and quality performance improvement initiatives.
Proper diabetes management is essential for controlling blood glucose, reducing risks for complications, and prolonging a higher quality of life. The HEDIS measures help to ensure that clinicians are following through with their responsibility in monitoring the status of diabetes, screening for potential complications, and helping patients achieve control of their diabetes.
LetsGetChecked is committed to improving patient outcomes. Our accessible screening solutions meet members where they are, making it easier to manage their care and meet quality measures.
