PQA

The Mission of the PQA is to:


Improve health care quality and patient safety through a collaborative process in which key stakeholders agree on a strategy for measuring performance at the pharmacy and pharmacist-levels; collecting data in the least burdensome way; and reporting meaningful information to consumers, pharmacists, employers, health insurance plans, and other healthcare decision-makers to help make informed choices, improve outcomes and stimulate the development of new payment models.

Guiding Principles and Governance of the PQA


The PQA, a pharmacy quality alliance, is a collaborative initiative involving all interested organizations and stakeholders that are committed to the mission of the PQA.

The PQA will be guided by a Steering Committee committed to improving health care quality and patient safety and pharmacy practice, and appointed to a three-year term of service, whose members are listed below:

Steven Anderson, President and CEO, National Association of Chain Drug Stores

Judith Cahill, Executive Director, Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy

Carolyn Clancy, MD, Director, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

John Feather, Executive Director & CEO, American Society of Consultant Pharmacists

John L. Fish, Vice President, Channel Management & Pharmacy Solutions, GlaxoSmithKline

John Gans, PharmD, Executive Vice President and CEO, American Pharmacists Association

Karen Ignagni, President and CEO, America's Health Insurance Plans

Jeffrey Kelman, MD, Center for Beneficiary Choices, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Jack Mahoney, MD, Corporate Medical Director, Pitney Bowes

David Marshall, Vice President, Commercial Operations, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA

Mark McClellan, MD, Visiting Senior Fellow, AEI Brookings Joint Center

Bruce Roberts, RPh, Executive Vice President and CEO, National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA)

N. Lee Rucker, MSPH, Strategic Policy Advisor, Public Policy Institute, AARP

Rebecca Snead, RPh, Executive Vice President and CEO, National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations

Edmond Weisbart, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Express Scripts, Inc.

The Workgroups


All related work of the PQA will be done in four key workgroups: Communications & Education, Quality Metrics, Data Aggregation & Reporting, and Research Coordinating Council. Each workgroup will be chaired by an appointed member of one of the steering organizations.

Communications & Education Workgroup

This workgroup is responsible for the development of educational programming for pharmacists about quality measurement and quality improvement, and the impact it will have on them as frontline practitioners in their practice settings. The workgroup will be comprised of representatives from all PQA members. Smaller subgroups will focus on specific communication or education needs of a particular pharmacy segment.

This workgroup will also be responsible for developing a plan for increasing awareness of PQA initiatives amongst healthcare decision-makers, clinicians and the public.

Co-Chairs:

David Domann, MS, RPh, Senior Director, Healthcare Quality Management
Ortho-McNeil Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC

Karen Farris, RPh, PhD, Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Socioeconomics
University of Iowa, College of Pharmacy

Quality Metrics Workgroup

The Quality Metrics Workgroup will be responsible for identifying the areas of measurement development and work with organizations who have a demonstrated expertise in the design and specifications of performance measures.

Co-Chairs:

Lawrence M. Brown, PharmD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Health Science Administration
The University of Tennessee, College of Pharmacy
Appointed by: American Pharmacists Association


Brad Tice, PharmD, PMP, Chief Clinical Officer
PharmMD Solutions, LLC

Data Aggregation & Reporting Workgroup

The Workgroup on Data Aggregation & Reporting will recommend principles and methods for reporting meaningful information to consumers, pharmacists, health insurance plans, purchasers and other interested stakeholders.

Co-Chairs:

John Coster, PhD, RPh, Vice President, Federal Affairs and Public Policy
Rite Aid Corporation

William K. Fleming, PharmD, Vice President, Pharmacy and Clinical Integration
Humana, Inc.
Appointed by: Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy

Research Coordinating Council

This workgroup will be comprised of 12-15 members and will include researchers, community pharmacists, and personnel from drug plans and potential data aggregators. The group will develop plans for demonstration projects that can be initiated in 2008, and will also serve as a coordinating/oversight body for the demonstration projects.

Co-Chairs:

Eleanor M. Perfetto, PhD, MS, Senior Director, Evidence Based Strategies
Pfizer, Inc

Eugene Reeder, RPh, PhD
Xcenda

Membership in the PQA


Membership applications for the PQA are available on this website. A dues structure for membership is found on page two of the membership application. Dues are not pro-rated and the first year's dues are for May 1, 2006 through April 30, 2007. When an organization's membership dues are received, this will entitle an organization to name up to four individuals to participate in the two workgroups within the PQA. Click here to download the PQA membership application.

Operations of the PQA


The day-to-day operations of the PQA will be directed and coordinated by Laura Cranston, RPh, who serves as the Executive Director of the PQA. She can be reached at 703-690-1987 or by email at info@PQAalliance.org.