Annual Report on Healthcare Quality and Disparities Shows Some Progress, Includes Expanded Measures of Opioid Use

An updated annual report on the quality of the nation’s healthcare shows that between 2000 and 2017, improvement occurred in almost 70 percent of measures used to evaluate person-centered care. During the same period, 60 percent of patient safety measures improved while care affordability measures remained the same. Those are among the findings in the 2018 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report, which each year provides a comprehensive overview of healthcare quality in the general U.S. population. As in previous years, the report shows substantial disparities related to race, ethnicity, income and other factors. In support of HHS’ ongoing effort to defeat the opioid crisis, this year’s report includes six opioid measures to provide more information on the impact of opioid dependence on healthcare delivery and services. The additional measures include drug overdose death rates, adult opioid outpatient prescription fills and the percentage of adults with opioid use disorder. This year’s report also includes measures in three additional areas: cancer care, dementia and maternal morbidity and mortality.

2018 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report

For the 16th year in a row, AHRQ is reporting on healthcare quality and disparities. The annual National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report is mandated by Congress to provide a comprehensive overview of the quality of healthcare received by the general U.S. population and disparities in care experienced by different racial and socioeconomic groups. The report is produced with the help of an Interagency Work Group led by AHRQ.

Introduction

The National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report assesses the performance of our healthcare system and identifies areas of strengths and weaknesses, as well as disparities, for access to healthcare and quality of healthcare. Quality is described in terms of six priorities: patient safety, person-centered care, care coordination, effective treatment, healthy living, and care affordability. The report is based on more than 250 measures of quality and disparities covering a broad array of healthcare services and settings.

Report Files

AHRQ no longer offers print copies of the report, but the files are set up for two-sided color printing and may be downloaded free of charge. If you have questions about printing or copying, contact Doreen Bonnett at 301-427-1899 or doreen.bonnett@ahrq.hhs.gov.

Introduction and Methods (PDF, 1 MB)
Executive Summary (PowerPoint, 2.5 MB)
Report and Appendixes B and C (PDF, 3.37 MB)
- Appendix B. Definitions and Abbreviations Used in 2018 Report
- Appendix C. Data Sources Used for 2018 Report
Appendix A. List of Measures and Summary of Results for Figures (PDF, 4.75 MB)
- Appendix A.1. Access to Care (PDF, 134.75 KB)
- Appendix A.2. Quality Trends (PDF, 148.8 KB)
- Appendix A.3. Disparities: Race and Ethnicity (PDF, 1.8 MB)
- Appendix A.4. Disparities: Income (PDF, 1 MB)
- Appendix A.5. Disparities: Insurance Status (PDF, 277.25 KB)
- Appendix A.6. Disparities: Residence Location (PDF, 663.2 KB)
Additional Methods Information
- Detailed Methods for the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (PDF, 342.4 KB)

Related Data and Tools

Page last reviewed September 2019
Page originally created September 2019

Internet Citation: 2018 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report. Content last reviewed September 2019. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. https://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/nhqrdr/nhqdr18/index.html