DQA Improvement Initiatives

These reports reflect analysis of Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System (T¬ MSIS) Analytic Files (TAFs) from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) by Key Analytics and Consulting, LLC. The data in the reports reflect the completeness and quality of data contained within T-MSIS TAFs. Data quality for each measure is assessed using the Data Quality Atlas as well as proprietary methods based on critical data elements required to calculate each measure. Contact dqa@ada.org for questions about the dashboard reports.

Dashboard of DQA Quality Measures

Detailed Measure Specifications and User Guide

All measures are calculated using specifications developed and tested by the Dental Quality Alliance.  The measure specifications provide detailed information about how each measure is calculated, and the User Guides provide guidance on various aspects of measure implementation. Measure specifications and the User Guides can be found on the DQA’s Dental Quality Measures page.

Measurement Selection Guide

Please note that data for all selections (e.g., year, stratification category) are not applicable for all measures. The table below indicates which selections are applicable to which measures. If a selection does not apply, a message will appear instructing to make a different selection.

View the Measurement Selection Guide (PDF)

Last Updated: May 29, 2025

Notes

1. Overall measure quality: Check the overall data quality note at the bottom of the chart. Significant issues with data quality may result in extremely low scores. For example, if data on rendering provider taxonomy codes (NUCC codes) are completely missing in a particular state, then measure scores will be 0.00% for the “dental services” versions of Topical Fluoride for Children and Utilization of Services for Children. Data quality is assessed based on evaluation of the critical data elements used to calculate each measure. Data quality is assessed for each measure, each state, and each year.
2. Insufficient data to display: For stratified measure scores (e.g., measure scores reported by age, race and ethnicity, urban or rural geographic location, and sex) that have insufficient data noted, check the missing data note(s) at the bottom of the chart. Stratification variables that have more than 10% of missing data are not reported. Individual stratification categories (such as a specific race and ethnicity classification) are not reported if the denominator is less than 30.
3. Data are not available for the selected state, year, and measure combination. Some combinations of selections may not be available. For example, the measure Care Continuity cannot be calculated for 2016; thus, selection of Care Continuity and 2016 will generate this message. When this message appears, please make a different selection.
4. Adult Utilization of Services. Reports related to Utilization of Services for Adults are meant to provide contextual information about dental service use among adult Medicaid beneficiaries. These reports indicate the percentage of adult Medicaid beneficiaries aged 21 years and older, enrolled for at least 180 days continuously, who had at least one dental service of any type (any CDT code). The denominator for these reports is the unduplicated number of adults 21 years and older enrolled for at least 180 days continuously in the reporting year. The numerator is the subset of the denominator who received at least one dental service of any type.
5. Adult benefits coverage. The adult measures include a note below the chart indicating the extent of adult benefits coverage in the state for each year. Benefits coverage categorizations follow those identified by the Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc (CHCS). The following sources were used to identify coverage for specific years: 
   • CHCS, Medicaid Adult Dental Benefits (PDF), Fact Sheet, October 2015
   • Kaiser Family Foundation, Access to Dental Care in Medicaid: Spotlight on Nonelderly Adults (PDF), Issue Brief, March 2016 (citing CHCS 2016 Fact Sheet as data source)
   • CHCS, Medicaid Adult Dental Benefits (PDF), Fact Sheet, May 2017
   • CHCS, Medicaid Adult Dental Benefits (PDF), Fact Sheet, November 2018
   • CHCS, Medicaid Adult Dental Benefits (PDF), Fact Sheet, September 2019
   • Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission MACPAC, Medicaid Coverage of Adult Dental Services, Issue Brief, and Compendium: State Medicaid Fee-for-Service Adult Dental Services Coverage Policies, January 2021
   • American Dental Association Health Policy Institute in partnership with Community Catalyst and Families USA, Making the Case for Dental Coverage for Adults in All State Medicaid Programs (PDF), Research Brief, July 2021
   • National Academy for State Health Policy, State Medicaid Coverage of Dental Services for General Adult and Pregnant Populations, October 2022
   • American Dental Association Health Policy Institute, Barriers to Dental Care Among Adult Medicaid Beneficiaries: A Comprehensive Analysis in Eight States (PDF), Research Brief, November 2024

Planned Updates:

• CY 2022 and CY 2023 data
• Additional adult measures

Suggested Citation

Herndon J, Ojha D, Layman S, Colangelo E, Aravamudhan K. Dental Quality Alliance State Oral Healthcare Quality Dashboard. American Dental Association in partnership with Key Analytics and Consulting, LLC. 2025.

Acknowledgement:

1. American Dental Association
2. Key Analytics and Consulting, LLC