The overview slide deck (PDF) begins by reviewing information that plans report to DHCS regarding their SB 1004 programs and how that information fits into the larger picture of assessing quality in palliative care. Several resources describing strategies and metrics that are commonly used to assess palliative care quality are presented, including:

• Lessons related to metrics and assessing impact derived from a recent CHCF project, Payer-Provider Partnerships for Community-Based Palliative Care
• Selected core metrics (PDF) used by the Palliative Care Quality Network, a national learning collaborative committed to improving care delivered to seriously ill patients and their families
• The National Quality Forum, a nationally recognized nonprofit that maintains a database of health care metrics, including 20 measures related to hospice and palliative care
• The 10 metrics recommended by the Measuring What Matters initiative, developed by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association
• The Palliative Care Measure Menu, a searchable database of palliative care metrics developed with support from CHCF
• A tip sheet (PDF) on approaches to assessing care quality in the context of COVID-19, developed by CHCF and the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California

The Preparing for SB 1004 Metrics Selection Worksheet (PDF) is a useful tool for assessing the information needs and priorities of important stakeholders and for evaluating the feasibility of specific potential metrics. The Metrics Balance Check Worksheet (PDF) helps determine the extent to which a possible metrics portfolio addresses an appropriate range of palliative care focus areas, is aligned with stakeholder needs, and requires data collection and analysis effort that is within the reach of the plan-provider partnership.