Posts for Category: PQA Blogs

PQA has completed a pilot studying the use of immunization measure concepts in payer-pharmacy value-based arrangements to better understand pharmacy-payer data exchange, which strongly influences the feasibility of pharmacy quality measurement. The results were announced in a release and report published yesterday.. The pilot also evaluated participants’ performance on the measure concepts and gathered their feedback to refine the measure […]

The PQA Quality Forum Webinar is a regular, recurring series on healthcare quality topics with a focus on medication use and medication services. It is a forum for educating and engaging with PQA members and quality-focused healthcare professionals.   The February 12 PQA Quality Forum Webinar welcomed Tammy Malm, PharmD, MPH, BCPS, PQA’s Director of Education, as she provided […]

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping health care, including how medications are used. On November 13, 2025, PQA hosted PQA Convenes: Artificial Intelligence in Medication Use Quality to bring together PQA members, health technology leaders, and other stakeholders for a discussion on how AI and machine learning are being used to identify, understand, and engage patients in their medication […]

PQA has appointed 16 individuals to serve on a new Patient Advisory Council. The council will advise PQA on what matters most to patients, their families and caregivers as it relates to safe, effective and appropriate medication use.  The council also will provide input on strategies to meaningfully incorporate patient perspectives throughout PQA’s work to improve the quality of medication use and patient outcomes.   The council members were selected by PQA […]

PQA is celebrating its 20th year in 2026. In addition to special events at the 2026 PQA Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Md., May 12-14, PQA will recognize across the year the people, milestones and achievements that have defined the organization’s success. We also will look to the future and PQA’s continuing work to improve the quality of medication use.  Laura Cranston, RPh, served as PQA’s founder and chief […]

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping health care, including how medications are used. On November 13, 2025, PQA hosted PQA Convenes: Artificial Intelligence in Medication Use Quality to bring together PQA members, health technology leaders, and other stakeholders for a discussion on how AI and machine learning are being used to identify, understand, and engage patients in their medication […]

PQA is convening a measure development technical expert panel (TEP) to support the development of a new health plan measure concept: Evidence of Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy in Persons with Heart Failure. This measure will assess the percentage of individuals with prescription claims for guideline-directed medical therapies for the treatment of heart failure. The TEP will include approximately 15 individuals from PQA member […]

PQA is celebrating its 20th year in 2026. In addition to special events at the 2026 PQA Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Md., May 12-14, PQA will recognize across the year the people, milestones and achievements that have defined the organization’s success. We also will look to the future and PQA’s continuing work to improve the quality of medication use.  Micah […]

In 2026, the Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) marks an extraordinary milestone: 20 years of advancing medication use quality and improving patient outcomes across the United States.   What began in 2006 as a bold, multi-stakeholder collaboration has grown into one of the most influential quality organizations in American health care – shaping measurement, supporting accountability and elevating the […]

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping health care, including how medications are used. On November 13, 2025, PQA hosted PQA Convenes: Artificial Intelligence in Medication Use Quality to bring together PQA members, health technology leaders, and other stakeholders for a discussion on how AI and machine learning are being used to identify, understand, and engage patients in their medication […]

PQA Is Launching a Heart Failure Technical Expert Panel  Self-Nominations are Due by Friday, March 27  PQA is convening a measure development technical expert panel (TEP) to support the development of a new health plan measure concept: Evidence of Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy in Persons with Heart Failure. This measure will assess the percentage of individuals with prescription claims for guideline-directed medical […]

The PQA Kelman Quality Leadership Program helps individuals at various career stages become leaders in health care quality that is focused on safe, effective and appropriate medication use. Through education, training and mentorship, the program has components for students, early career professionals and emerging leaders that support long-term professional development and advancement towards leadership positions. Now in its fourth year, the program was renamed in 2026 in honor of former Center for Medicare Chief […]

I’m pleased to invite you to join us in Baltimore at the 2026 PQA Annual Meeting, May 12-14! As we celebrate PQA’s 20th anniversary throughout the year and at the meeting, this special gathering will recognize the people, milestones and achievements that defined PQA’s success. The meeting is more than a celebration; it’s a time where […]

PQA convenes two standing technical expert panels – the Quality Metrics Expert Panel (QMEP) and Measure Update Panel (MUP) – to support PQA’s systematic, transparent, and consensus-based process for measure development and maintenance. Each nomination-based panel consists of approximately 25 individuals representing PQA’s multistakeholder membership and other subject matter experts, including patients, caregivers, and patient […]

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services strengthened its commitment to monitoring patient safety with the addition of several PQA safety measures to the 2027 Part D Star Ratings (Polypharmacy: Use of Multiple Anticholinergic Medications in Older Adults [POLY-ACH], and Concurrent Use of Opioids and Benzodiazepines [COB]) and Display Page (Polypharmacy: Use of Multiple CNS-Active Medications in Older Adults [POLY-CNS]).

Join us for the next PQA Quality Forum Webinar on Thursday, February 12, from 1:00-2:00 pm ET, focused on social determinants of health (SDOH) and the role of community health workers (CHW) as partners to address barriers that affect medication access, use and outcomes. PQA Education Director Tammy Malm, PharmD, MPH, BCPS, will open the forum with an overview of the PQA […]

The PQA Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Resource Guide Companion provides insights on key characteristics of effective partnerships among pharmacies, other health care organizations and community organizations to address SDOH barriers affecting medication access, use and outcomes.

PQA has appointed individuals from member organizations to serve on the 2026 PQA Measure Update Panel (MUP) and Quality Metrics Expert Panel (QMEP). The panelists self-nominated and were selected by PQA staff to create a balanced group that represents PQA’s membership and includes relevant expertise. Measure Update Panel (MUP) The MUP is a select group […]

Early in the measure life cycle, PQA solicits multi-stakeholder input to evaluate and prioritize health plan measure concepts for future development. To support measure conceptualization in 2025, PQA convened a Measure Concept Advisory Group (MCAG) and conducted a public comment period to inform future measure development, with a particular focus on addressing meaningful gaps in medication use quality while ensuring measure concepts are evidence-based and […]

The PQA Quality Leadership Program expanded in 2025 to increase opportunities for all professionals at PQA member organizations and students to hone their skills in medication use quality and gain valuable knowledge about PQA’s measure development process and the measure life cycle. Eleven individuals were selected to shadow the Quality Metrics Expert Panel or the Measure Update […]

The PQA Board of Directors has adopted the goals and objectives of PQA's next strategic plan, Blueprint PQA 2030, which will guide our work from 2026 through 2030. This follows our highly successful Leadership Summit, where PQA members provided insights and guidance on the strategies and tactics that will be important for our success in the coming years.

A research partnership between PQA, Merck, and the University of Mississippi focused on three PQA adherence measures to continue to monitor their impact. The project examined Medicare Advantage enrollees who were taking either diabetes, renin-angiotensin system antagonist, or statin medications. The study found that higher proportion of days covered (PDC) in one year was associated […]

A research partnership between PQA, Merck, and the University of Mississippi focused on three PQA adherence measures to continue to monitor their impact.   Using administrative claims data from Optum’s de-identified Clinformatics® Data Mart Database, the project examined Medicare Advantage enrollees who were taking either diabetes, renin-angiotensin system antagonist (RASA), or statin medications.  Findings suggest the average patient-level adherence rate was between 84%-89% across the three medication classes using a modified […]

PQA will launch a new Patient Advisory Council in 2026. This council will advise PQA on what matters most to patients, their families and caregivers as it relates to safe, effective and appropriate medication use. PQA invites patients, caregivers, and patient advocates to consider submitting nominations.

We are excited to welcome attendees next week to the 2025 PQA Leadership Summit and PQA Convenes: Artificial Intelligence in Quality Medication Use at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in Arlington, Va. This year's summit will focus on Blueprint PQA 2030, PQA's next strategic plan.

Welcome to Five For Friday! PQA convened a Health Plan Measure Concept Advisory Group (MCAG) to review and provide input on measure concepts for development in 2026 and beyond. PQA invites public comments on five health plan measure concepts that have been reviewed for potential future development. PQA is providing a 15-business-day public comment period and is accepting […]

PQA, the Pharmacy Quality Alliance, will launch a new Patient Advisory Council in 2026. This council will advise PQA on what matters most to patients, their families and caregivers as it relates to safe, effective and appropriate medication use.   The council also will provide input on strategies to meaningfully incorporate patient perspectives throughout PQA’s work […]

This guest blog is one in a series by sponsors of the 2025 PQA Leadership Summit on how health plans are rebuilding trust and driving change locally. PQA does not endorse, recommend or favor any product, service or organization that is a sponsor. Over the past six months, I’ve had the opportunity to attend several industry […]

Welcome to Five For Friday! As a valued PQA member, your organization’s voice is essential at the 2025 PQA Leadership Summit, November 13-14 in Arlington, Va. Your insights will help shape Blueprint PQA 2030, our next strategic plan, which will guide PQA’s work from 2026 to 2030. There is still time to make your plans to […]

Welcome to Five For Friday! PQA members are currently voting on one measure for endorsement consideration and three for retirement consideration. PQA members have a unique and important opportunity to inform the development of PQA measures from beginning to end, culminating in a vote for endorsement consideration. Each PQA member organization has one vote per […]

Welcome to Five For Friday! PQA has published the 2025 PQA Annual Report, which documents progress towards our strategic plan, Blueprint PQA 2025, from September 2024 to August 2025. Alongside our members and stakeholders, our team continues to advance a series of important, enduring and mutually supporting goals. The accomplishments detailed in this report would not be possible […]

PQA has published the 2025 PQA Annual Report, which documents progress towards our strategic plan, Blueprint PQA 2025, from September 2024 to August 2025. Alongside our members and stakeholders, our team continues to advance a series of important, enduring and mutually supporting goals. Together, we are innovating and expanding capacity to enable quality medication use in a digital, […]

PQA has a new scholarship opportunity for students at PQA member organizations to take free of charge the PQA Medication Use Quality online training program. This program provides 15 hours of education on the fundamentals of quality measurement and helps individuals master today’s quality landscape.   As the 2025-26 academic year gets underway, this is a […]

Welcome to Five For Friday! There are plenty of opportunities to participate in upcoming PQA convening events. Registration is open for the 2025 PQA Leadership Summit and the summit’s pre-meeting event,  PQA Convenes: Artificial Intelligence in Medication Use Quality, on November 13-14, in Arlington, Va. We are also accepting breakout session and poster abstract proposals for the 2026 PQA Annual Meeting, May […]

Health outcomes can be influenced by many factors other than the health care services received, including patient-related characteristics that are both clinical (i.e., pre-existing conditions) and non-clinical (e.g., income, education, age, race or ethnicity). Careful evaluation of risk adjustment is an important consideration to ensure that organizations that care for disadvantaged populations are measured fairly.    Through […]

Welcome to Five For Friday! We are thrilled to welcome our members to the 2025 PQA Leadership Summit and the summit’s pre-meeting event,  PQA Convenes: Artificial Intelligence in Medication Use Quality, on November 13-14, in Arlington, Va. This year’s summit will focus on Blueprint PQA 2030 and will leverage PQA members’ expertise to inform the strategies and tactics needed to successfully implement the plan. […]

Welcome to Five For Friday! Registration is open for the 2025 PQA Leadership Summit, November 13-14, in Arlington, Va. This year’s summit will focus on Blueprint PQA 2030, PQA’s strategic plan that is in development and will guide the organization’s work from 2026 through 2030. The summit will leverage PQA members’ expertise to inform the strategies and tactics needed […]

Welcome to Five For Friday! PQA is developing its next strategic plan, Blueprint PQA 2030, which will guide the organization’s work from 2026 through 2030. The proposed goals build on and continue key elements of PQA’s current strategic plan, Blueprint PQA 2025 and will be the focus of the 2025 PQA Leadership Summit. PQA now seeks […]

PQA has appointed 23 individuals to serve on a Measure Concept Advisory Group (MCAG) to help the organization to review and provide input on health plan measure concepts for future development. The group will provide guidance to prioritize areas of interest and potential measure concepts, evaluating key criteria such as:  This work will help shape […]

This guest blog is one in a series by sponsors of the 2025 PQA Annual Meeting on improving care and reducing unnecessary costs across Medicaid populations. PQA does not endorse, recommend or favor any product, service or organization that is a sponsor. At the intersection of data science and clinical strategy lies the opportunity to […]

PQA identified six objectives to advance medication therapy management (MTM) quality and measurement, highlighted in the first blog on PQA’s MTM initiative. One ongoing objective is to increase the patient-centeredness of MTM services in the Medicare Part D MTM program. Another is to conceptualize new MTM quality measures. A key strategy to meet these objectives is the […]

This guest blog is one in a series by sponsors of the 2025 PQA Annual Meeting on unlocking clinical revenue from within pharmacy workflow. PQA does not endorse, recommend or favor any product, service or organization that is a sponsor. The business of pharmacy is at a critical juncture. As revenue opportunities expand beyond dispensing, […]

Welcome to Five For Friday! PQA invites public comments on one measure being considered for endorsement and three PQA-endorsed measures considered for retirement. We encourage you to discuss these measures with colleagues and business associates. PQA is accepting comments through Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Following the public comment period, PQA member organizations will have the opportunity to […]

The 2025 PQA Annual Meeting poster session featured 19 quality improvement and research projects. The session provided an opportunity for authors to showcase their work and for attendees to engage in insightful dialogue about healthcare quality.  Awards for the top three posters were selected by a volunteer panel of 13 meeting attendees representing PQA’s diverse member sectors.  […]

PQA members and health care quality professionals gathered in Tampa, Fla., May 19-21, for the 2025 PQA Annual Meeting. Over those three days, health care executives and quality professionals from pharmacies, health plans, health care providers, pharmacy benefit managers, life sciences companies, technology vendors, research institutions, academia and more addressed top issues and emerging trends […]

Welcome to Five For Friday! The 2025 PQA Annual Meeting took place this week, and it was an extraordinary three days of education and networking.  We will share news and insights from the meeting in the coming weeks, but opportunities to engage with PQA and fellow members are available to you throughout the year. PQA has 175 diverse […]

PQA is a non-profit organization with 175 diverse members across healthcare. Our members include community and specialty pharmacy organizations, pharmacists and other healthcare providers, pharmacies, health plans, pharmacy benefit managers, life sciences, technology vendors, government agencies, health information technology partners, researchers, accrediting organizations and academia. New organizations regularly join PQA throughout the year. This blog […]

Welcome to Five For Friday! The 2025 PQA Annual Meeting is just 10 days away! The meeting brings together stakeholders from across health care focused on quality medication use. Connecting with old colleagues, and developing new relationships is consistently a top-rated benefit of the meeting. There will be many networking opportunities,  all of which take place in […]

This guest blog is one in a series by sponsors of the 2025 PQA Annual Meeting on bridging payers and pharmacies to drive better care and lower costs. PQA does not endorse, recommend or favor any product, service or organization that is a sponsor. Outcomes® stands at the intersection of pharmacy and payer strategy, empowerig […]

The PQA Board of Directors represents a diverse group of thought leaders and experts in health care, who understand how medication optimization improves patient outcomes and supports a value-based care system. Their expertise helps PQA advance the safe and appropriate use of medicines. This blog is one in a series profiling PQA’s Board members.  James Kirby, PharmD, BCPS, FAPhA, is PQA’s Board Chair for 2025. […]

Welcome to Five For Friday! The 2025 PQA Annual Meeting is just four weeks away, and we are excited to welcome you to Tampa! The meeting provides in-person, high-impact opportunities for networking, professional development, continuing education, and strategic engagement with business partners and prospects. We have more than 50 speakers across 20 sessions and events that will […]

The PQA Postdoctoral Executive Fellowship helps produce the next generation of leaders in health care quality through a full-time, 12-month program. Executive Fellows collaborate with PQA staff, members and other stakeholders on a variety of initiatives to improve medication use quality. During the fellowship, individuals will expand their skills and experience in project management, quality […]

With the volatility and uncertainty of today’s market, we’re all watching budgets and expenditures closely.  At the same time, the business imperative to engage with your peers, partners and customers remains strong. Spring is the busiest professional meeting season for most industries, and that’s true for health care, pharmacy and quality, too.  If you and […]

The evolution of PQA’s continued involvement in medication therapy management (MTM) spans over a decade. Milestones include endorsement of the Completion Rate for Comprehensive Medication Review performance measure in 2011 and development of the foundational Medication Therapy Problem Categories Framework in 2017.   In 2023, PQA launched a multiphase national MTM initiative to address stakeholder […]

The evolution of PQA’s continued involvement in medication therapy management (MTM) spans over a decade. The first blog in a series to detail PQA’s MTM initiative outlines PQA’s six objectives to advance MTM quality. This blog will address the first objective to promote a standard of care for MTM through education on using the PQA Medication Therapy Problem (MTP) Categories FrameworkTM in the Pharmacist’s […]

PQA is requesting self-nominations from individuals at PQA member organizations to serve on a Health Plan Measure Concept Advisory Group (MCAG). This group will help shape PQA’s health plan quality measure development efforts and pipeline in 2026 and beyond. The composition of this group will reflect PQA’s multi-stakeholder membership and include individuals with clinical, technical, […]

PQA is launching a Health Plan Measure Concept Advisory Group (MCAG) to review and provide input on measure concepts for development in 2026 and beyond. The group will provide guidance to prioritize health plan measure concepts, evaluating key criteria such as:  The MCAG will be composed of 20-25 subject matter experts from PQA member organizations. […]

Welcome to the 100th edition of Five For Friday! This series began four years ago, shortly after I joined PQA. The vision was to highlight our members’ amazing work to improve medication use quality. Since then, we have shared 300 news stories featuring nearly 200 organizations. Many of those stories profile the cross-sector collaborations that […]

In 2023, PQA launched a multiphase national medication therapy management (MTM) initiative to address stakeholder needs and advance MTM quality measurement. PQA has identified six objectives that can advance MTM quality and measurement, and the MTM Advisory Group is serving as a forum providing expert feedback on how to approach these. As a first step, the PQA […]

PQA is dedicated to improving safe, effective and appropriate medication use and addressing issues that impact a person’s ability to access and use medications.  As we work to address health equity and social determinants of health that affect medication use quality and patient outcomes, we believe that a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce will strengthen […]

PQA is now accepting self-nominations for the Diversity in Quality Scholarship. The program provides scholarships for health care professional students to attend the 2025 PQA Annual Meeting, May 19-21, in Tampa, Fla., and participate in the pre-meeting Medication Use Quality Live workshop on May 19. This scholarship opportunity is part of the PQA Diverse Quality Leaders Program and our commitment to build a […]

The Medicare Part D medication therapy management (MTM) program aims to optimize therapeutic outcomes and reduce the risk of adverse events and associated costs by identifying and addressing medication therapy problems. There are specific eligibility criteria for Medicare beneficiaries to take advantage of these services. However, a significant portion of those eligible do not choose […]

Join us as we head to the Sunshine State for the 2025 PQA Annual Meeting, May 19-21! Meeting registration and hotel reservations are now open—don’t miss your chance to participate! Make your plans to join us and other quality professionals in Tampa at the primer event for quality medication use. Enhance the impact of your attendance by becoming a sponsor […]

PQA and research partners at the University of Arizona, the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, and Merck & Co. recently conducted patient interviews to explore patients’ perceptions of their experience with comprehensive medication reviews (CMR).   This work was published in the December 2024 issue of the Journal of Managed Care & […]

PQA has published a new report that summarizes the conversations from PQA Convenes: Quality Medication Use in Rare Disease, held on November 7, which brought together health care quality experts, rare disease leaders and individuals with lived experience to discuss what constitutes high-quality rare disease medication use. This report compiles perspectives shared over four discussion panels. Several […]

Barriers to medication access are a public health issue that affect adherence and patient outcomes. PQA emphasizes the pharmacist’s role in medication access and developed the Medication Access Patient Journey (MAPJ) conceptual framework that defines a patient’s medication access journey and characterizes barriers frequently encountered while seeking medication access. This framework highlights seven steps, or […]

Only about five percent of rare diseases have treatments that are approved by the FDA, but the situation is improving. Today, drugs designed to treat rare diseases make up half of new drug approvals each year.  This is important progress, as there are more than 7,000 rare diseases. Together, they affect more than 30 million […]

PQA has published a new report detailing technical recommendations for advancing health equity with PQA quality measures. Developed by the PQA Health Equity Technical Expert Panel (TEP), it provides key recommendations for PQA measure testing and use in quality programs. The TEP provided valuable health equity recommendations for PQA measure testing and use in quality programs, while […]

PQA has appointed individuals from member organizations to serve on the 2025 PQA Measure Update Panel (MUP) and Quality Metrics Expert Panel (QMEP). The panelists self-nominated and were selected by PQA staff to create a balanced group that represents PQA’s membership and includes relevant expertise. Measure Update Panel (MUP) The MUP is a select group of approximately 25 PQA members who recommend or review potential updates to PQA-endorsed […]

This guest blog is one in a series by sponsors of the 2024 PQA Leadership Summit on how MedWatchers is using AI to empower better patient care. PQA does not endorse, recommend or favor any product, service or organization that is a sponsor. At MedWatchers, we have realized that the quality of the intervention is the most […]

As we near the end of 2024, it’s a great time to reflect on our accomplishments. We are wrapping up year four of Blueprint PQA 2025, PQA’s five-year strategic plan.  Each year brings its share of opportunities and challenges, and I’m proud of our progress as an alliance. I have penned a new blog that highlights five major areas of work in […]

This guest blog is one in a series by sponsors of the 2024 PQA Leadership Summit on why a large diverse clinical pharmacy network is so important to payer performance. PQA does not endorse, recommend or favor any product, service or organization that is a sponsor. The importance of pharmacies is widely reported, with patients now […]

As we near the end of 2024, it’s a great time to reflect on our accomplishments. We are wrapping up year four of Blueprint PQA 2025, PQA’s five-year strategic plan. Each year brings its share of opportunities and challenges, and I’m proud of our progress as an alliance. One important aspect that is unwavering from year to year is the passion and dedication of our board, team, and members to achieving our mission and accomplishing our shared strategic priorities. Without […]

As a PQA MPH Practicum Program student this summer, I collaborated with the Performance Measurement and Research Team to learn about PQA’s various frameworks and initiatives. As a dual-degree student pursuing my Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and Master of Public Health (MPH), I found my background and interests to be greatly aligned with PQA. The […]

PQA is now is accepting self-nominations for the 2025 PQA Quality Shadowing Program. This program provides individuals from diverse groups the opportunity to observe PQA’s Quality Metrics Expert Panel or the Measure Update Panel. Entering its third year, the program is designed to help individuals gain knowledge that can support selection for future panels. The deadline […]

PQA members and health quality professionals gathered in Arlington, Va., on November 7 for PQA Convenes: Quality Medication Use in Rare Disease. This half-day event brought together health care quality experts, rare disease leaders and individuals with lived experience to discuss what constitutes high-quality rare disease medication use.   PQA Chief Engagement Officer Richard Schmitz […]

We are excited to host members next week at the 2024 PQA Leadership Summit and PQA Convenes: Quality Medication Use in Rare Disease at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in Arlington, Va. This year’s summit will focus on PQA’s recent and ongoing work to develop standard pharmacy quality measures. There is still time for members to join us […]

The PQA Quality Essentials Webinar series provides education on the fundamentals of quality measurement, which is important for effective measure implementation and performance, and information about where and how PQA quality measures are used.  In the August 14, 2024, Quality Essentials Webinar, PQA’s Melissa Castora-Binkley, PhD, Senior Director of Research and Carly Vogel, PhD, Research […]

Every patient deserves access to medications that are safe, effective and can help them achieve the best outcomes possible. As our understanding and ability to treat rare disease improves, PQA is eager to shine a light on the aspects of quality medication use that benefit patients and those who care for them. Join us for PQA Convenes: […]

PQA offers a competitive Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiential (APPE) Rotation for pharmacy students, which provides experiential learning opportunities in non-profit association management, medication use quality education, communications, research and performance measurement. PQA works with individual students to align their rotation experience with desired career goals and interests. Applications for the 2025-26 year are now being accepted. You can apply here. Visit our Student Programs page for more information.  Lauren Moy, University of Illinois […]

PQA is developing a set of standard pharmacy performance measures that would be appropriate for pharmacy quality assessment. As part of this work, PQA has launched a proof-of-concept pilot using several PQA pharmacy measure concepts to evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacies in improving adult immunization rates through value-based arrangements (VBA) with payers. Working with four […]

What an exciting year it has been for PQA! As we continue progress towards completion of our strategic plan, Blueprint PQA 2025, our team has been hard at work alongside our valued members to deliver meaningful improvements and drive positive change in quality medication use.   Today, we published the 2024 PQA Annual Report, which documents […]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious global health concern impacting millions of individuals. Despite being the third leading cause of mortality worldwide, COPD remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. Quality measures are a vital component of value-based payment models, but there are few COPD measures in current U.S. quality reporting programs, despite the established burden […]

PQA offers a variety of student and professional programs, including experiential rotations, internships and fellowships. Each focuses on providing health care quality experience to diverse individuals from diverse disciplines. PQA is now accepting applications for our student and professional programs for 2025-2026. As an emerging leader in health care, public health, and pharmacy, now is […]

PQA’s Board of Directors represents a diverse group of thought leaders and experts in health care, who understand how medication optimization improves patient outcomes and supports a value-based care system. Their expertise helps PQA advance the safe and appropriate use of medicines. This blog is one in a series profiling PQA’s Board members.  Susan Cantrell, MHL, RPh, CAE, is […]

There are numerous opportunities for you to be part of the PQA Convening events in the coming months. Registration is also open for the 2024 PQA Leadership Summit and PQA Convenes: Quality Medication Use in Rare Disease. We also invite submissions for breakout session and poster abstract proposals for the 2025 PQA Annual Meeting, which is set to take place May 19-21 in Tampa, Fla. […]

Adherence to medications for cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes helped Medicare beneficiaries avoid up to $29.2 billion in healthcare costs over six years (2016-21), according to the 2024 National Impact Assessment of CMS Quality Measures Report. This report underscores the importance of high-impact measures for chronic conditions, as evidence-based management efforts can significantly reduce complications and […]

PQA has issued an eight-point call to action for improving the quality and measurement of medication therapy management (MTM) services. The call was developed with extensive stakeholder input as part of a national, multi-phase initiative that PQA launched in 2023 to identify a pathway for new quality measures. It is the focus of a report […]

PQA has received a 2024 Power of Associations Gold Award from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) for the PQA Diverse Quality Leaders Program. The program helps individuals at various career stages become leaders in health care quality focused on safe, effective and appropriate medication use. As an alliance of quality-focused organizations, PQA remains committed to […]

PQA provides healthcare quality experience to students from a wide variety of disciplines. This summer, we are hosting four students through our internship and MPH practicum programs. They are adding medication safety, adherence and appropriate use experience to their professional training. We recently invited them to answer five questions about the work they are doing, where they’re […]

Registration is open for the 2024 PQA Leadership Summit, November 7-8, 2024, in Arlington, Va., and PQA Convenes: Quality Medication Use in Rare Disease, which will take place before the summit on November 7. This year’s summit will focus on pharmacy measure use in value-based arrangements (VBAs) and quality improvement programs. PQA recently published a report on two proof-of-concept pilots that […]

PQA published the Strategies to Expand Value-Based Pharmacist-Provided Care Action Guide five years ago. The guide was designed to spark conversation and foster collaboration between community pharmacy organizations, pharmacists and health care payers. I was honored to manage the task force that informed the report, and in a new blog, I reflect on the guide’s impact and […]

Through convening events, research, pilots and work to develop standard pharmacy quality measures, PQA has been a national leader in advancing pharmacist-provided care. A 2018 PQA-convened task force identified 15 strategies to expand value-based pharmacist-provided care, which form the centerpiece of the 2019 Strategies to Expand Value-Based Pharmacist-Provided Care Action Guide. The guide was designed […]

Patients receiving specialty medications often have complex, high-cost treatment needs, necessitating close management from care teams, including specialty pharmacies. Recognizing this, specialty pharmacy stakeholders have articulated the need for standardized turnaround time (TAT) measurement and reporting to better understand a key aspect of specialty pharmacy quality. In 2022, we launched the PQA Specialty Pharmacy Turnaround Time […]

The use of specialty medicine has grown rapidly in recent decades, fueling parallel growth in the number of specialty pharmacies that serve patients who are prescribed specialty medications. Patients receiving specialty medications often have complex, high-cost treatment needs, necessitating close management from care teams, including specialty pharmacies. Specialty pharmacies dispense medications, for which timely initiation of […]

Diverse Voices in Quality is a PQA blog series that showcases the successful career paths and experiences of medication use quality professionals from diverse groups at PQA member organizations. A part of PQA’s Diverse Quality Leaders Program, this series celebrates the achievements of our members who reflect our nation’s diversity and provides everyone with insights and inspiration […]

PQA, in partnership with Inovalon, is evaluating the impact of the Medicare out-of-pocket cost cap for insulin on persistence to basal insulin. A large body of evidence has linked improved medication adherence to improved outcomes in patients with diabetes. However, the cost of insulin presents a significant burden to patients, contributing to a decrease in medication-taking behavior. The […]

More than 400 leaders from PQA member organizations attended the 2024 PQA Annual Meeting, May 14-16, to network, engage and gain actionable insights. During the meeting, PQA presented eight Medicare plan contracts with a PQA Laura Cranston Excellence in Quality or Quality Improvement Award and awarded top posters from the 2024 PQA Annual Meeting Poster Session, sponsored by PQS. Learn […]

Oral anticancer medications (OAMs) are a growing and important tool in the fight against cancer. More than 120 FDA-approved OAMs were used in clinical practice in 2022, and OAMs represent more than one-third of cancer medications in the development pipeline. The quality of OAM use impacts clinical care, care coordination, patient safety and outcomes – […]

PQA members and health quality professionals gathered in Baltimore, Md., May 14-16, for the 2024 PQA Annual Meeting. For these three days, health care executives and quality professionals from pharmacies, health plans, health care providers, pharmacy benefit managers, biopharmaceutical companies, technology vendors, government agencies and more addressed top issues and emerging trends in medication quality, measure development […]