A Unique Opportunity to Shape and Inform Measure Development

Participating in the Process: Opportunities for Everyone

There are a number of ways for PQA members to contribute and stay informed. If you’d like to participate further, scroll down to our “Nomination-Based Groups and Panels” section.

Stakeholder Advisory Meetings

Quarterly meetings hosted by PQA staff to inform membership of current and relevant measure development and maintenance updates. These meetings may occur via webinar or in person, for example during the PQA Annual Meeting or PQA Leadership Summit. Updates shared with membership include the status of measures in development and recent updates to existing measures. Upcoming opportunities for comments and participation in advisory groups or panels are also communicated. These meetings may engage PQA members, such as panel co-chairs, to present relevant updates.

Comment Periods

A Call for Comments is communicated during the Conceptualization and Endorsement phases of development. Comments are also sought regarding potential measure retirement.

Membership Endorsement Vote

After a measure completes PQA’s consensus-based development process and undergoes thorough review by PQA panels to determine that it meets PQA’s measure criteria, PQA hosts an all-member webinar to present key information on the measure being considered for endorsement and review themes from public comment. Immediately following the all-member webinar, each PQA member organization electronically casts its vote for measure endorsement noting support (yes), opposition (no), or abstention. The voting process takes place electronically and lasts for ten business days. A greater than 60% vote in support (of member organizations voting yes or no) is required for a measure to receive PQA endorsement.

Membership Retirement Vote

After a measure is recommended for retirement and reviewed by PQA panels, PQA hosts an all-member webinar to present key information on the measure being considered for retirement and review themes from public comment. Immediately following the all-member webinar, each PQA member organization casts its vote for measure retirement noting support (yes), opposition (no), or abstention. The voting process takes place electronically and lasts for ten business days. A greater than 60% vote in support (of member organizations voting yes or no) is required for a measure to be retired. If the measure is retired, notice will be sent to users of the measure. The measure specifications will be retained in an appendix of the PQA measure Manual for two years following retirement. The retirement will be documented in the PQA Measure Concept Inventory.

Measure Testing

PQA partners with member organizations to test draft measures and potential changes to existing PQA measures. Input from testing partners is considered for refining measure specifications, and testing organizations gain early insights into how their organization might perform if the measures were ultimately adopted into an accountability program.

Participating in the Process: Nomination-Based Panels and Groups

For PQA members who want to be further involved in the measurement development process, PQA’s process includes multiple opportunities for members to participate in panels throughout the development lifecycle. Panel members are selected through a self-nomination process that considers each candidate’s experience and expertise to ensure a balanced and effective group.

Measure Concept Advisory Groups

Composed of approximately 30 members selected through a self-nomination process to advise PQA during measure conceptualization. These groups are convened as needed, in a time-limited fashion and include members with clinical, measurement, and implementation expertise and lived experience that is directly applicable to the concepts being considered.

Comment Periods

A Call for Comments is communicated during the Conceptualization and Endorsement phases of development. Comments are also sought regarding potential measure retirement.

Measure Update Panel

A standing panel composed of 25-30 members, selected by PQA staff through a self-nomination process, to review PQA measures to ensure they continue to align with current clinical evidence and/or guidelines and that the measures remain viable for use in the marketplace. The panel meets monthly and as needed via webinar, and members can serve a maximum of two two-year terms.

Measure Validity Panel

A standing panel composed of 10-15 members selected by PQA staff to determine whether the performance scores resulting from the measure can be used to distinguish good from poor quality clinical care (i.e., validity). The Measure Validity Panel is composed of a subset of the Measure Update Panel. The panel meets on an ad hoc basis via webinar.

Quality Metrics Expert Panel

A standing panel composed of 20-25 technically proficient members selected by PQA staff through a self-nomination process, to review draft measure specifications and testing plans, review measure testing results, and recommend measures for endorsement and retirement consideration by PQA membership. The panel meets monthly and as needed and QMEP members serve a maximum of two three-year terms.

Risk Adjustment Advisory Panel

A panel composed of 15-20 members, selected by PQA staff through a self-nomination process, to evaluate the need for clinical and/or sociodemographic status risk adjustment for PQA measures in use, and measure concepts under development. The panel is convened via webinar as needed and in a time-limited fashion, and includes individuals with expertise in risk adjustment methodology and healthcare disparity research.

Technical Expert Panels

Small, technically proficient panels composed of 10-15 members, and external experts as needed, who are selected through a self-nomination process to guide the measure specification process and provide expert input during the measure development process. These groups are convened as needed in a time-limited fashion, and include members with clinical, measurement, and implementation expertise that is directly applicable to the measure concepts being developed. Current technical expert panels are listed below. Please note that measure descriptions may be refined over the course of development.

Hemoglobin A1c / Blood Pressure Reporting (Pharmacy)

Antidepressant Medication Management (Pharmacy)

Hemoglobin A1c / Blood Pressure Reporting (Pharmacy)