States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD)

Measure Specification Files

To access measure specifications and related resources for NCQA measures used in the States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD) model, please click on the links below for the applicable model year.

Model Year	Measure Specifications
2026*	Acute Hospital Utilization (AHU) Adult Immunization Status (AIS) Breast Cancer Screening (BCS) Colorectal Cancer Screening (COL) Controlling High Blood Pressure (CBP) Emergency Department Utilization (EDU) Follow-Up After Emergency Department Visit for Substance Use (FUA) Follow-Up After Hospitalization for Mental Illness (FUH) Glycemic Status Assessment for Patients With Diabetes (GSD) Plan All Cause Readmissions (PCR) Pharmacotherapy for Opioid Use Disorder (POD) Prenatal and Postpartum Care (PPC) Measure specifications currently posted reflect the most up-to-date versions of the measures. Specifications for Model Year 2026 will be released when available. *This is a risk-adjusted utilization measure that compares observed to expected rates. The exact risk weights that will be used for this measure in this Innovation Center model will be determined at a date closer to implementation. Therefore, NCQA is providing access to the specifications without the risk weights needed for calculating expected values.

Model Year

Measure Specifications

2026*

Acute Hospital Utilization (AHU)**
Adult Immunization Status (AIS)
Breast Cancer Screening (BCS)
Colorectal Cancer Screening (COL)
Controlling High Blood Pressure (CBP)
Emergency Department Utilization (EDU)**
Follow-Up After Emergency Department Visit for Substance Use (FUA)
Follow-Up After Hospitalization for Mental Illness (FUH)
Glycemic Status Assessment for Patients With Diabetes (GSD)
Plan All Cause Readmissions (PCR)
Pharmacotherapy for Opioid Use Disorder (POD)
Prenatal and Postpartum Care (PPC)

*Measure specifications currently posted reflect the most up-to-date versions of the measures. Specifications for Model Year 2026 will be released when available.

**This is a risk-adjusted utilization measure that compares observed to expected rates. The exact risk weights that will be used for this measure in this Innovation Center model will be determined at a date closer to implementation. Therefore, NCQA is providing access to the specifications without the risk weights needed for calculating expected values.