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cost efficiency

cst_eff_scr
quality·Updated Jun 23, 2026

Definition

ISO-11179 Definition

A composite measure comparing a provider or health plan total cost of care for an attributed patient population against a risk-adjusted benchmark representing expected efficient spending, used to identify high-value providers and calculate performance-based payment adjustments in value based contracts. Cost efficiency scores typically express actual spending as a percentage of expected spending — scores below 100 percent indicate spending below the benchmark representing efficient care while scores above 100 percent indicate excess spending above benchmark. Cost efficiency is measured at multiple granularity levels including total cost of care, service category costs, and episode-specific costs to identify specific utilization patterns driving overall efficiency.

Healthcare data teams calculate cst_eff_scr by applying risk adjustment models to normalize population complexity, comparing risk-adjusted actual costs against expected benchmark costs, decomposing efficiency variance into service category drivers, and producing provider-level efficiency scorecards used in value based payment performance reviews and tiered network placement decisions.

Standard Abbreviation

cst_eff_scr

Category

quality

Production DDL — FACT_QUALITY_MEASURE

FACT_QUALITY_MEASURE.sql
CREATE OR REPLACE TABLE FACT_QUALITY_MEASURE (
    qlty_key        INTEGER        NOT NULL  -- surrogate key,
    mbr_key         INTEGER        NOT NULL  -- FK to DIM_MEMBER,
    plan_key        INTEGER        NOT NULL  -- FK to DIM_PLAN,
    meas_yr         SMALLINT                 -- measurement year,
    hedis_meas_cd   VARCHAR(20)              -- HEDIS measure code,
    denom_ind       CHAR(1)                  -- denominator eligible,
    numer_ind       CHAR(1)                  -- numerator met,
    excl_ind        CHAR(1)                  -- exclusion indicator,
    gap_open_ind    CHAR(1)                  -- care gap open,
    star_rtg_nbr    DECIMAL(3,1)             -- star rating,
    qlty_scr        DECIMAL(5,2)             -- quality score,
    perf_thrsh_pct  DECIMAL(5,2)             -- performance threshold,
    raf_scr         DECIMAL(10,3)            -- risk adjustment factor,
    outreach_cnt    SMALLINT                 -- outreach attempts,
    load_dt         TIMESTAMP_NTZ  NOT NULL  -- load timestamp
);

Standard Snowflake DDL for the canonical quality table. Convert to BigQuery or Databricks →

Why This Term Matters

Quality measure data determines how payers and providers are rated and reimbursed under CMS Stars, HEDIS, and value-based care contracts. Data engineers who understand quality terminology build measure calculation pipelines that correctly attribute patients, apply denominator exclusions, and flag documentation gaps before submission deadlines. Incorrect quality data directly affects star ratings, pay-for-performance bonuses, and Medicare Advantage plan bids.

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