Upcoming Changes to the Optimal Asthma Control Measure
Creation date: 9/19/2025 9:08 AM
Updated: 10/27/2025 9:10 AM
As part of MNCM’s routine measure review process, the Measurement & Reporting Committee (MARC) conducted an evaluation of the Optimal Asthma Control measure in June 2024. The committee identified several concerns regarding data collection burden and the measure’s relevance to providers. Consequently, MARC recommended the establishment of a measure redesign workgroup. Upon concluding its work in March 2025, the workgroup presented its recommendations to MARC. These were subsequently reviewed, and suggested changes were forwarded to the Board of Directors, who approved them in May 2025.
The following updates will take effect starting in measurement year 2026 (MY2026 reported in 2027):
- The ACQ tool will be removed from the numerator definition.
- The AIRQ tool (for adults and children) will be added to the well-controlled component definition (a score of 0 to 1 indicates control).
- The AIRQ tool (for adults and children) will also be incorporated into the low risk of exacerbation component definition (a score of 0 to 1 indicates low risk of exacerbation).
- Results will be stratified into two rates per population (adults and children) – original tools (ACT, C-ACT, ATAQ) and new tool (AIRQ).
Statewide and medical group/clinic level results will be privately reported for MY2026. Following the private reporting period, MARC will evaluate the uptake of AIRQ use and determine the appropriateness of the level of results that are publicly reported. Over three to five years, MARC will also evaluate the uptake of AIRQ use among clinics. Based on this evaluation, MARC will determine if it is appropriate to transition to calculating components by using only the AIRQ tool.