Posts for Category: PQA Blogs

PQA has published nearly 90 blogs this year, providing insights and updates on our work to improve medication use quality. As we close out 2022, here’s a look back at the top five blogs of the year. 5. PQA’s Plan to Improve Oral Anticancer Medication Use Quality (October 10) PQA is launching a national initiative […]

This year, PQA convened its members and stakeholders to advance our work on pharmacy performance measures and oral anticancer medication (OAM) use quality. As we move into 2023, PQA will continue to drive innovative measures and quality strategies. PQA’s work to improve medication use quality is distinguished by its multi-stakeholder collaboration and consensus-driven processes. We’re excited by our progress […]

There are several important policy issues that could impact pharmacists’ ability to positively affect the quality of care for patients through the use of pharmacy performance measures. PQA is developing a set of standard pharmacy performance measures suitable for assessing pharmacy performance and for use in value-based arrangements (VBAs). Our work to develop pharmacy performance measures accelerated […]

PQA members are currently voting on one measure up for endorsement and four measures for retirement. PQA’s member-driven process sets it apart in measure development and stewardship. PQA members have a unique and important opportunity to inform the development of all PQA measures from beginning to end, culminating in a vote for endorsement consideration — […]

PQA will host an all-member webinar on Thursday, December 1, from 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET, to discuss the measures up for endorsement and retirement consideration. PQA staff will review and respond to themes from the recent public comment period and address questions. This member-only webinar will precede the member voting period, December 1-16, on one new measure for endorsement consideration […]

We are excited to host members next week at the 2022 PQA Leadership Summit. This year we will explore quality and value in medication use from patient, provider, purchaser, payer and industry perspectives. Thank you to our member organizations, who are sponsoring this year’s summit. Their support enhances our programs. Thank you to Centene, Kroger, […]

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 October 20, 2022, PQA Quality Essentials Webinar Rachel Digmann, PharmD, PQA’s Senior Director of Performance Measurement, and Ben Shirley, CPHQ, PQA’s Director of Performance Measurement […]

PQA offers a variety of student and professional programs, including a Masters of Public Health (MPH) Practicum Program, which provides internship opportunities and field experience to MPH students across all public health disciplines. The program’s foundation begins with the applicant’s interests to foster skill development in health services research methods, quality measurement, research communications and […]

PQA’s talented staff is dedicated to improving medication safety, adherence and appropriate use. As experts in measure development, research, education and convening, they lead the implementation of PQA’s quality initiatives to support better medication use and high-quality care. This blog is one in a series profiling PQA’s staff. Ben Shirley is one of PQA’s directors […]

PQA is launching a national initiative to prioritize research and measurement strategies to improve the quality of care for individuals using oral anticancer medications (OAM). Our initial goal is to forge national consensus among oncology and quality experts on the most meaningful measurement concepts and the solutions needed for improving medication use and medication management […]

What constitutes quality and value in medication use? It depends on your perspective, but we must work together to identify and pursue shared goals that reflect the interests of patients and the numerous caregivers and stakeholders who play a role in the medication use process. At the 2022 PQA Leadership Summit, we will explore the […]

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 September 15, 2022, PQA Quality Forum Webinar welcomed Cassie Bobbitt, MPH, Marybeth Farquhar, PhD, MSN, Hannah […]

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. PQA’s August 18, 2022, Quality Forum welcomed a panel of expert advisors from the National Transitions of […]

PQA follows a systematic, transparent, and consensus-based process in the development and maintenance of measures. This process ensures that PQA measures are relevant and continue to support improvement in health care. Previous blogs have focused on the early phases of the measure development lifecycle, including measure conceptualization, measure specification , measure testing and measure endorsement. More recently, […]

PQA, the Pharmacy Quality Alliance, is launching a national initiative to prioritize research and measurement strategies to improve the quality of care for individuals using oral anticancer medications (OAM).  OAM includes oncolytics – the oral medications used to treat cancer, including targeted agents, antimetabolites, topoisomerase inhibitors, and biologics – as well as hormonal therapies that […]

Collaboration is one of PQA’s greatest attributes, and our measure development process is the embodiment of how our diverse member organizations reach consensus on evaluating medication use quality. The public comment period is an important part of our systematic and transparent consensus-based process.  This week, we opened a public comment period on one health plan performance measure being considered for […]

The Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) has developed a new health plan performance measure focused on medication adherence, Proportion of Days Covered Composite (PDC-CMP). PQA is actively soliciting feedback on this measure via a public comment period which opened on October 3 and will close on October 24, 2022. Stakeholders are invited to provide comments.    PDC-CMP […]

PQA is a non-profit organization with 250 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 […]

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are a priority for PQA because, in addition to traditional care, issues like medication cost, literacy, transportation and food security impact a person’s ability to access medications and use them safely and effectively.  Food security, which is defined as having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food, […]

PQA has appointed 15 individuals from member organizations to serve on a technical expert panel (TEP) to review and provide input on draft specification for a health plan performance measure concept: COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) Treatment Ratio (CTR).  The COPD Treatment Ratio TEP will provide expert input on the concept, which will assess the […]

PQA offers a variety of student and professional programs, including experiential rotations, internships and fellowships. Each is focused on providing healthcare quality experience to diverse individuals from diverse disciplines.  PQA is now accepting applications for our student and professional programs for 2023-2024. Visit our student programs page and learn more about the educational opportunities below. We […]

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 2023-24 year are now being accepted. You can apply here. Visit our Student Programs page for more information.  Kyra Leonard is one of PQA’s 2022 APPE students. This […]

PQA has been busy this year advancing the quality of medication use through measure development and stewardship, education, research and convening. Thank you for your engagement and participation in our work that supports better medication use and high-quality care.  The 2022 PQA Headlines and Highlights details our accomplishments together. Our stakeholders, new and longstanding alike, have worked alongside us to […]

The 2022 PQA Annual Meeting hosted a general session to discuss recent changes across Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) quality programs and future implications.    The May 4 session, “What’s New in CMS Quality Program,” welcomed Sharon Jhawar, PharmD, MBS, Chief Pharmacy Officer of SCAN Health Plan; Chris Powers, PharmD, Vice President of Part […]

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.  PQA’s July 21, 2022, Quality Forum welcomed speakers from Cureatr to discuss their pharmacist-led, patient-centered virtual care […]

RAND convened a technical expert panel (TEP) in February 2022 to gather input about potentially developing a measure to capture value-based care arrangements (VBAs) that Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations have with contracted providers. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) could consider including such a measure in future MA and Part D Star Ratings.    This […]

PQA’s talented staff is dedicated to improving medication safety, adherence and appropriate use. As experts in measure development, research, education and convening, they lead the implementation of PQA’s quality initiatives to support better medication use and high-quality care. This blog is one in a series profiling PQA’s staff. Megha Parikh is PQA’s Senior Research Scientist. […]

PQA has begun developing a health plan performance measure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a high-burden and expensive condition, so ensuring effective, high-quality treatment is a priority for patients and those who care for them.  PQA is accepting nominations for a Technical Expert Panel (TEP) that will launch in October to refine the […]

PQA, the Pharmacy Quality Alliance, has begun developing a health plan performance measure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).  Chronic lower respiratory disease, primarily COPD, is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Almost 15.7 million Americans have been diagnosed with COPD. The actual number is likely higher, as half of adults […]

As the summer winds down, we are quickly approaching the end of 2022. PQA has been busy this year, in collaboration with our members, advancing the quality of medication use through measure development and stewardship, education, research and convening.  While several months remain in the year, we already have a lot to celebrate. The 2022 PQA Headlines […]

The PQA Quality Essentials Webinar 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.   PQA’s June 16, 2022, Quality Essentials Webinar featured Rachel Digmann, PharmD, Senior Director of Performance Measurement, and Ben Shirley, CPHQ, Director of Performance Measurement, at PQA. Lisa Hines, PharmD, CPHQ, PQA’s Chief Quality […]

We are excited to announce that we will be open registration for the 2022 PQA Leadership Summit later this month. This year’s summit will take place November 10-11 in Arlington, Va., and explore quality and value in medication use from patient, provider, purchaser, payer and industry perspectives. One individual from each PQA member organization is invited to […]

PQA follows a systematic, transparent and consensus-based development process to ensure that measures are important, scientifically acceptable, feasible and usable. However, the measurement lifecycle does not end when a measure is endorsed.   Previous blogs have walked through the measure conceptualization, measure specification and measure testing and measure endorsement phases of the measure development lifecycle. This blog will describe the measure maintenance process, which […]

by Chris Kotschevar PQA with support from Pharmacy Quality Solutions is hosting the fourth annual Healthcare Quality Innovation Challenge, or HQIC. This competition encourages student pharmacists to work with fellow students from pharmacy, other health professions and business to develop innovative technology solutions to address the challenges facing pharmacy today. For this year’s competition, PQA […]

his guest blog is one in a series by sponsors of the 2022 PQA Annual Meeting on the utilization of the EQUIPP platform to promote performance improvement on medication-related quality measures while engaging transparency between health plans and pharmacies. The views shared in this series are those of the author and do not reflect any […]

Quality measures are standards for measuring the performance of health care providers to care for patients and populations. PQA develops and stewards measures focused on medication use.  There are 42 PQA measures, which are described in the PQA Measures Overview, and they fall into one of three categories:   Only PQA performance measures can be used […]

Recently published research conducted by the National Pharmaceutical Council, PQA and the University of Rhode Island measured the impact of patient nonadherence to oral anticancer medications. The study findings have been published in the Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy. Building on this work, PQA plans to convene national stakeholders to prioritize strategies to improve the quality of care for […]

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 […]

Biopharmaceutical innovation has led to an increase in the availability of oral medications to treat cancer. Oral anticancer medications (OAMs) are much more convenient for patients and avoid the inconvenience and administration costs of having to receive treatment at a doctor’s office or outpatient infusion center, allowing patients to self-administer oral medication at home.  One […]

PQA’s Board of Directors represents a diverse group of thought leaders and experts in healthcare, 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.   Michael Taday, PharmD, MBA, […]

Each month PQA hosts a Quality Forum Webinar which focuses on best practices and emerging trends in medication use quality, medication services and other initiatives that can improve health care quality.  Implementation experts, frontline practitioners and thought leaders from PQA staff and member organizations join me to provide insights to our members. You can read below about upcoming webinars, archived materials and […]

PQA provides healthcare quality experience to students from a wide variety of disciplines. This summer, we are hosting three students through our PQA Summer Executive Internship sponsored by Pharmacy Quality Solutions and MPH practicum program. They are adding medication safety, adherence and appropriate use experience to their professional training. We recently invited them to answer five questions […]

At PQA, our research develops evidence to support meaningful quality measures, demonstrates the value of medications and pharmacist-provided care, and fosters collaboration within the healthcare system to address social determinants of health (SDOH) and improve medication access. There is a growing focus on SDOH in health care, but little information on how organizations collect and use SDOH data […]

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. PQA’s April 21, 2022, Quality Forum welcomed a panel of experts to discuss the negative consequences of […]

This guest blog is one in a series by sponsors of the 2022 PQA Annual Meeting on the application of measures into daily practice. The views shared in this series are those of the author and do not reflect any PQA positions Adherence Solutions for patients living with or at risk for HIV Many of […]

PQA’s Board of Directors represents a diverse group of thought leaders and experts in healthcare, 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.  Vikki Ahern, MAS, CHC, is […]

Healthcare providers increasingly recognize the importance of social determinants of health (SDOH). PQA is exploring the role of pharmacists and pharmacy services in addressing patients’ SDOH, including SDOH screenings and additional services that address barriers to medication access and increase medication adherence. Although there is a growing focus on SDOH in healthcare, there is little […]

This past January, PQA published the first edition of the PQA Social Determinants of Health Resource Guide. The guide features 20 real-world SDOH services that are promising for improving the quality and safety of medication use. PQA is expanding the guide now to include additional services and updated information about initiatives in the first edition. […]

PQA, the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and Janssen Scientific Affairs have collaborated to jointly host a “Postdoctoral Fellowship in Real World Evidence, Population Health, and Quality Research.” The two-year fellowship aims to prepare an individual for a career in healthcare quality-related outcomes research.  Aeja Jackson received her PhD from Rush University Medical Center in Integrated Biomedical […]

Pharmacists and pharmacy teams are an essential part of the health care delivery system. As pharmacies expand patient services, they need tools to demonstrate their value. PQA has published the updated Pharmacy Measure Development Action Plan to guide our continued work to build out a set of pharmacy measures for payer-pharmacy arrangements and to allow […]

PQA follows a systematic, transparent and consensus-based development process to ensure that measures are important, scientifically acceptable, feasible and usable. This approach produces strong, consistent results, but it also takes time.   From the specification phase of convening a technical expert panel to achieving PQA endorsement, measure development can last 12-24 months or longer, depending on the complexity of the measure. […]

PQA is a non-profit organization with 250 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 […]

A comprehensive medication review (CMR) is a medication therapy management (MTM) service designed to systematically collect and assess patient medication information and identify medication therapy problems (MTPs) to develop a care plan for resolution. To ensure Medicare Part D plans are actively engaging in annual CMRs, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) added the […]

In a new Population Health Management article, PQA’s Melissa Castora-Binkley, Lisa Hines and I explain how medication adherence quality measures are relevant and high-impact. The adherence measures in the CMS Part D Star Ratings have contributed to immense public health benefits and savings over the last decade. They are an excellent example of how evidence-based […]

PQA’s talented staff is dedicated to improving medication safety, adherence and appropriate use. As experts in measure development, research, education and convening, they lead the implementation of PQA’s quality initiatives to support better medication use and high-quality care. This blog is one in a series profiling PQA’s staff.  Rachel Digmann is PQA’s Senior Director of […]

The 2022 PQA Annual Meeting poster session featured 24 quality improvement and research projects. Sponsored by Pharmacy Quality Solutions, the session provided an opportunity for authors to showcase their work and for attendees to engage in insightful dialogue about health care quality.   Awards for the best student poster and the top three posters were selected […]

Medication adherence quality measures are relevant and high-impact, according to PQA’s Ben Shirley, Melissa Castora-Binkley and Lisa Hines, whose Population Health Management point of view article was published online April 29. They explain that adherence measures in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Part D Star Ratings have contributed to immense public health […]

Although many pharmacists have partnered with public health entities and providers to address and improve challenges associated with social determinants of health (SDOH), there has not been a pharmacy screening tool developed with patient input.   It is vital that screening and interventions to address SDOH barriers are co-developed by patients and pharmacists for maximum effectiveness […]

PQA has appointed 17 individuals from member organizations to serve on a technical expert panel (TEP) to review and provide input on draft specifications for a health plan measure concept: Proportion of Days Covered (PDC) Composite.  The Health Plan PDC Composite TEP will provide expert input on the concept, which will be specified to provide […]

We are less than two weeks away from the 2022 PQA Annual Meeting in Baltimore! I look forward to connecting with you in-person and discussing our shared goals to advance medication use quality. I am excited to share some insights and perspectives on PQA and lay the groundwork for our path forward during my State […]

PQA follows a systematic, transparent and consensus-based development process to ensure that measures are important, scientifically acceptable, feasible and usable. This approach produces strong, consistent results, but it also takes time.  From the specification phase of convening a technical expert panel to achieving PQA endorsement, measure development can last 12-24 months or longer, depending on […]

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. PQA’s February 17, 2022, Quality Forum webinar welcomed Brittany Boyd, MHA, CPhT, Senior Manager, Pharmacy Training and Support, […]

PQA’s education programs provide health care quality professionals with the knowledge, training and resources needed to improve patient outcomes through safe and appropriate medication use. With an emphasis on new developments and best practices, PQA programs promote the use and impact of PQA measures and initiatives that support better medication use and high-quality, value-based care.  […]

The early registration deadline for the 2022 PQA Annual Meeting has been extended to next Friday, April 15! This extension includes the special PQA hotel rate. The program is almost finalized. See our recent announcements on the speakers for:  Additional speakers will be announced Monday. Don’t miss these timely and important panels. See below this week’s […]

PQA’s talented staff is dedicated to improving medication safety, adherence and appropriate use. As experts in measure development, research, education and convening, they lead the implementation of PQA’s quality initiatives to support better medication use and high-quality care. This blog is one in a series profiling PQA’s staff. Amanda Ryan is PQA’s Director of Education. […]

PQA, the Pharmacy Quality Alliance, is a member-driven organization.   Our work to improve medication safety, adherence and appropriate use is informed at every step by our diverse member organizations, who represent pharmacies, health plans, health care providers, pharmacy benefit managers, biopharmaceutical companies, technology vendors, government agencies, associations, health information technology organizations, researchers, accrediting organizations and […]

Open to all health care professionals, the PQA meeting is a top forum for learning best practices and emerging trends in medication services, pharmacist-provided care and quality improvement initiatives. The 2022 PQA Annual Meeting is May 3-5 at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland. PQA is welcoming attendees in-person to the largest multidisciplinary gathering of […]

PQA has published the 2022 PQA Measure Manual and Value Sets. The PQA Measure Manual includes detailed narrative specifications for PQA measures, which are needed to implement the measures accurately and appropriately. PQA Value Sets, which include National Drug Codes (NDCs), are required to calculate PQA measures as specified.  The revised manual, published annually in […]

The early registration dealing for the  PQA Annual Meeting is April 4, and we are announcing new details on how to connect with innovators and emerging leaders in medication use quality.  This year’s poster session features 24 quality improvement and research projects. Sponsored by Pharmacy Quality Solutions, the session will enhance the meeting’s other educational programming.  We are […]

The 2022 PQA Annual Meeting poster session will feature 24 quality improvement and research projects. Sponsored by Pharmacy Quality Solutions, the session provides an opportunity for authors to showcase their work and for attendees to engage in insightful dialogue about health care quality.  The posters enhance the meeting’s other educational programming: four general sessions, 15 […]

The Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) seeks interested pharmacy and payer partners to participate in proof-of-concept pilots to implement high priority blood pressure and hemoglobin A1c measure concepts in value-based payment arrangements (VBAs).  PQA has issued a request for interest (RFI) to gauge interest and willingness to participate in these pilots. The RFI and pilot process […]

PQA provides education throughout the year to promote the use and impact of PQA measures and advance the quality of medication use. With a focus on new developments and best practices, our goal is to help quality-focused health care professionals in a variety of practice settings expand their knowledge and skills.  In addition to our […]

The PQA Annual Meeting is in person, May 3-5, in Baltimore, Md. We are hosting a pre-meeting, half-day continuing education workshop: Medication Use Quality: A PQA Live CE Event. This event is ACPE accredited for 4 hours of continuing pharmacy education. It takes place on Tuesday, May 3, from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., before the meeting kicks […]

PQA’s talented staff is dedicated to improving medication safety, adherence and appropriate use. As experts in measure development, research, education and convening, they lead the implementation of PQA’s quality initiatives to support better medication use and high-quality care. This blog is one in a series profiling PQA’s staff.  Melissa Castora-Binkley is PQA’s Senior Director of […]

PQA is a non-profit organization with 250 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 […]

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 […]

We are 10 weeks away from the 2022 PQA Annual Meeting. I am excited to get back together with each of you for our first in-person annual meeting since 2019. Our members have continued to partner with each other throughout the pandemic to improve the quality of care, but we all miss the personal connections […]

Rice, Romania, rugby and rum. They each have their own congressional caucus. They are among more than 450 active caucuses, which provide visibility and advocacy for a variety of issues and policies. Caucuses date back to the 1880s but they have proliferated in recent decades.  Last year, Representatives Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.), Tom Cole (R-Okla.), G.K. […]

In December, PQA members endorsed a new composite pharmacy adherence measure that is a major step forward in our work to develop standard pharmacy performance measures focused on improving patient care.   This measure is aligned with the PQA health plan adherence measures used in the Medicare Part D Star Ratings program. Therefore, it should be […]

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.  PQA’s January 27, 2022, Quality Forum welcomed Arpana Mathur, MD, MBA, Executive Medical Director, Medical Affairs at […]

Nadia Krigger, a Master of Public Health candidate at New York University participated in the PQA MPH Practicum Program during the Fall 2021 semester. Krigger has a background in biological and analytical research and her interests include infectious disease research and health policy. While at PQA, she supported development of a manuscript on the empirical […]

Public health encompasses a wide range of efforts related to promoting and protecting the health of people and communities. PQA’s mission is directly aligned with public health in that we seek to optimize health by advancing the quality of medication use. To do this, PQA has four main areas of focus: quality measure development, quality […]

The PQA Quality Forum Webinar is a recurring series on healthcare quality topics with a focus on medication use and medication services. The quality forum creates an opportunity for education and engagement with PQA members and quality-focused healthcare professionals.   PQA’s October 21, 2021, Quality Forum explored how patient connections can be leveraged in combination with […]

The 2022 PQA Annual Meeting takes place May 3-5 in Baltimore. This will be our first in-person annual meeting in three years. It is our time to reconnect, learn, network and engage in our shared effort to advance healthcare quality. Registration for the meeting opens on Monday. Be on the lookout for our email with […]

PQA published yesterday our first Social Determinants of Health Resource Guide. It is the first resource guide that catalogues pharmacist and pharmacy-centered SDOH services. It is designed to provide health care professionals with ideas and examples of SDOH services they can implement in many different settings and adapt to their communities’ specific needs. The guide […]

PQA has published nearly 80 blogs this year, providing insights and updates on our work to improve medication use quality. As we close out 2021, here’s a look back at the top five blogs of the year.  5. Five For Friday, March 5: Celebrating Success in Advancing Medication Use Quality (March 5)  Micah Cost joined PQA as CEO on […]

PQA’s Board of Directors represents a diverse group of thought leaders and experts in healthcare, 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.   Ronna Hauser is a PQA Board member. She […]

Amidst an incredibly uncertain time in our world’s history, 2021 will stand out as a year of milestones. This year, we witnessed the successful deployment of several mRNA vaccines and development of therapeutics to assist in the fight against COVID-19. This effort was one of the most extraordinary feats of expedited scientific discovery and innovation […]

PQA’s talented staff is dedicated to improving medication safety, adherence and appropriate use. As experts in measure development, research, education and convening, they lead the implementation of PQA’s quality initiatives to support better medication use and high-quality care. This blog is one in a series profiling PQA’s staff.  Lynn Pezzullo is PQA’s Senior Director of Quality Innovation. She is responsible for […]

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.  PQA’s December 9, 2021, Quality Forum welcomed Sharrel Pinto, BSPharm, PhD, FAPhA, department head and the Hoch Endowed Professor for Community Pharmacy […]

Prescription opioid-related deaths are one of the leading preventable public health problems. High-risk prescribing practices have contributed to the opioid overdose epidemic. These include overlapping opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions, prescribing high-dose opioids and using multiple prescribers or pharmacies for opioid prescriptions.  The Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (SUPPORT […]

The PQA Quality Forum Webinar is a recurring series on healthcare quality topics which focus on medication use and medication services. The quality forum creates an opportunity for education and engagement with PQA members and quality-focused healthcare professionals.  PQA’s September 23, 2021, Quality Forum discussed the integration of pharmacists in value-based programs to improve performance on PQA measures at the […]

PQA members are currently voting on three measures up for endorsement and two up for retirement. It is the culmination of PQA’s systematic, transparent, and consensus-based process to conceptualize, specify, test, refine and endorse (or retire) medication use quality measures. PQA’s member-driven process sets it apart in measure development and stewardship. PQA members have a […]

PQA’s Board of Directors represents a diverse group of thought leaders and experts in healthcare, 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.  Troy Trygstad is a PQA Board member and has […]

The Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) has developed a 3-hour online continuing education (CE) course on “Measuring Quality to Improve HIV Medication Use.” Launched September 8, the course complements CE and training programs that are focused on clinical practice. While clinical training builds skills and knowledge to prevent and treat disease, quality improvement initiatives are essential […]

PQA is a non-profit organization with 250 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 […]

The Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) continues to forge ahead with our work to develop a set of standard pharmacy performance measures that would be appropriate for use in value-based plan-pharmacy agreements. Over the past 3 years, we have convened and worked with a broad base of industry leaders to identify and vet pharmacy performance measures that meet […]

by Kate Starr Medication Use Quality is an online PQA continuing education and certificate program for healthcare quality professionals, who are working to improve patient outcomes through safe and appropriate medication use. The program empowers professionals to understand and implement effective quality improvement programs across the healthcare industry. This blog is one in a series […]

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a complex disease, and its prevention and treatment have progressed through scientific discoveries, clinical training, continuing education, and widespread public health campaigns. However, gaps in knowledge and practice remain, related to quality improvement and especially to medication use. In response, the Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) developed a 3-hour continuing education […]

Concepts Could Be Used in Payer-Pharmacy Value-Based Arrangements  Pharmacists and pharmacy teams, now more than ever, are a critical part of the health care delivery system. As community pharmacies continue to innovate and provide important services to patients, they need the proper tools to demonstrate their value.   Quality measures are essential for this purpose, allowing […]