Component Class

A measure’s component class describes how its denominator’s observations relate to its numerator observations.

Component Class: Normal Form

Measures with a normal form component class have at most one numerator observation for each denominator observation.

In the diagram the table on the left contain denominator observations and the table on the right contains numerator observations.

For each observation in the denominator table there can be at most one corresponding observation in the numerator table.

For example, a measurement of ED visits within 14 days of inpatient discharge has a normal-form component class if the numerator’s observations were restricted to the first instance of a patient ED visit.

Component Class: Long Form

Measures with a long form component class can have many numerator observations for each denominator observation.

In the diagram the table on the left contain denominator observations and the table on the right contains numerator observations.

For each observation in the denominator table there can be more than one corresponding observation in the numerator table.

For example, a measurement of plan spending within 30 days of an ED visit has a long-form component class because there can be multiple numerator observations (claims) associated with a single denominator observation (ED visit).