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BetaMaternal Health Indicators
How are Maternal Health Indicators used?
The Maternal Health Indicators (MHIs) are geographic area level rates of severe maternal morbidity (SMM) and mortality that could potentially be prevented by high quality health care. The measures are identified via delivery discharge claims data and can be used for population health analysis, surveillance, quality assurance, and research purposes.
The MHIs are released as a beta module and AHRQ invites feedback on their use and validation by researchers and other users. AHRQ is currently developing additional measures to potentially address healthcare quality during the peripartum periods. The MHI measures are meant to be used at the area level and are not intended as accountability measures.
BETAMHI Software Available
AHRQ offers free software to help users using the AHRQ QIs generate results that are both accurate and actionable. Use of this free software ensures a standard, trusted approach to quality measurement and means more resources are available for supporting improvements to patient care.
SAS QI v2024
CloudQI v2024
Frequently Asked Questions
Individual Measure Technical Specifications (v2024 coding)
Breaks down calculations used to formulate MHIs, including a brief description of the measures, numerator and denominator information, and details on cases that should be excluded from calculations.
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