PQA has released the entire Medication Use Quality continuing education program and Medication Use Quality Certificate, which is a fully updated version of the program that was initially released in 2020.

The Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) seeks interested pharmacy and payer partners to participate in proof-of-concept pilots to implement and test high priority immunization pharmacy measure concepts.

Last week, PQA released an important report, Recommendations to Improve the Quality of Oral Anticancer Medication Use, which we believe is a key step towards improving the quality of care of individuals using oral anticancer medications (OAM).

The uniqueness of OAMs, including complex treatment regimens, variable dosing schedules, and temporary and intentional discontinuation of therapy, present distinct challenges to accurately defining and measuring adherence and persistence. PQA will use our research and measurement expertise to explore OAM adherence or persistence methodologies to inform potential development of a health plan measure. Learn more about this report below.

We also highlight our members' perspectives on research partnerships, access to CGM services, and supporting education and adherence. If you have news you'd like for us to spotlight in an upcoming Five For Friday, send us an email! 

At PQA, you may have noticed that we appreciate sports analogies. Earlier this summer, PQA CEO Micah Cost discussed what baseball and quality measures have in common. In keeping with the baseball theme, PQA is entering the top of the 7^th for 2023, and there is still plenty of time for members to get in the game.

We are excited to announce that registration has opened for the 2023 PQA Leadership Summit and PQA Convenes: Advancing Medication Therapy Management Quality Measurement.

This year’s summit will focus on measure modernization and PQA’s role in the national effort to advance and align measures across providers and value-based programs. This PQA Convenes event is part of a national initiative to advance medication therapy management (MTM) quality measurement and other strategies to evaluate MTM services. Learn more about these events below.

We also highlight our members' perspectives on team-based care, value-based arrangements and pharmacists' role as providers. If you have news you'd like for us to spotlight in an upcoming Five For Friday, send us an email! 

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 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 measure design and implementation, non-profit administration and association management, and health care quality research. 

PQA's webinars have a new look! Throughout the year, PQA provides various education opportunities 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 healthcare professionals in a variety of practice settings expand their knowledge and skills. PQA hosts four different webinar series to provide targeted education on a variety of topics. Each of our four webinars has a distinct purpose, and we are excited to showcase the new logo for each series. Below you'll find information on each series and how you can take advantage to advance your knowledge and expertise. 

PQA has several exciting opportunities for members to engage in our work in the coming months.

Chris Kotschevar and I will be in San Diego next week for the NACDS Total Store Expo and would love to connect with our members there. Learn more about our commitment to standardized pharmacy measures below and how you can connect with us next week!

We also highlight our members' perspectives on immunizations, community healthcare providers and patient experience. If you have news you'd like for us to spotlight in an upcoming Five For Friday, send us an email! 

Medication therapy management (MTM) is an important tool to help patients get the best results from the medications they’re taking.

However, as our health care system shifts toward patient-centered and value-based care models, there is a need to advance how we evaluate the quality of MTM services. This can support the broader implementation of standardized best practices and payment that rewards positive outcomes.

PQA has launched a national initiative to advance MTM quality measurement. A key part of this effort is a November 2 PQA Convenes event will will host. Learn more below.

We also highlight our members' perspectives on diabetes care, achieving the quintuple aim and transforming pharmacy care. If you have news you'd like for us to spotlight in an upcoming Five For Friday, send us an email! 

PQA has launched the PQA Quality Innovation and Research Initiative to Advance Medication Therapy Management Quality Measurement – a national initiative to advance medication therapy management (MTM) quality measurement and other strategies to evaluate MTM services.

Creating a quality improvement plan can seem daunting to many, but it is vital for value-based care and improved patient quality. PQA’s Medication Use Quality continuing education program course, "Quality Improvement Foundation," was designed to provide realistic approaches to implementing a quality improvement plan in a variety of settings.

The 2023 MLB All-Star Game was this week. It's an annual showcase featuring the most talented individuals who step onto the diamond every day. All-Stars have to be at the top of their game across the entire first half of the season. Getting six hits in your first 10 at-bats won’t make you an All-Star, but consistently performing at a high level over time sure will.

Health information technology and public policy are two topics in health care that are continually evolving, as is their impact on medication use quality. With those factors in mind, the next Medication Use Quality continuing education program course, "Special Topics Impacting Quality," will provide a framework to understand each topic and resources to locate additional information. This framework will give learners the knowledge to understand those impacts on an ongoing basis.

PQA is once again preparing to expand the PQA Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Resource Guide! As we work to develop the third edition we are seeking new initiatives and feedback on how our members and other quality stakeholders have used the guide.

PQA has released an additional course to the Medication Use Quality continuing education program.  “Equity and Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) in Medication Use Quality” dives into foundational information about health equity concepts and external factors that may impact health outcomes and medication use quality, including SDOH.

Medication Therapy Management (MTM) is an important tool to help patients get the best results from the medications they’re taking. In a new viewpoint article from PQA, Merck and the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, we present three reasons for new MTM quality measures and offer recommendations on next steps to achieve this.