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 and implementation, care transformation and technology. 

“We face a rapidly changing policy environment as our health care system works to be more value-based, patient-centered and outcomes focused. I am excited for this year’s program, which address many of these challenges and opportunities we face.”

- Susan A. Cantrell, MHL, RPh, CAE Chair, PQA Board of Directors, CEO, Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP)

Attendees heard from more than 60 speakers across the general sessions, breakout sessions, briefing sessions and innovation theaters. These nationally leading speakers shared expert insights and best practices for improving medication use quality from every angle in the industry. General sessions focused on value-based care, the Inflation Reduction Act, quality programs, and medication therapy management. 

Here are some of the top insights from these sessions’ presenters.

• Change management is pivotal in value-based care. Investing in change management prepares the entire team to drive the change forward. Change management promotes collaboration and requires thoughtful prioritization. Understanding the trade-offs and the human aspect of change and planning for the losses is crucial to prioritizing change. 
• Louise Keogh Weed emphasized the need to balance results, processes and relationships when implementing change. All three aspects are needed, and those leading the change must account for each. The Dimensions of Success, also known as the R-P-R Triangle (Results-Process-Relationship), is a great framework for adapting change that brings success into the organization's culture. 
• The Inflation Reduction Act will have substantial beneficial impacts on affordability and likely downstream beneficial impacts on adherence. The rollout, especially patient education, will be challenging for plans, providers, and pharmacies.
• Buy-in across the organization is essential for any change to be made in relation to the quality programs. Think of comprehensive medication review (CMR) interventions as an investment, rather than an expense.
• With the expansion of medication therapy management (MTM) access through the Final Rule, it is essential to build trust and connection between MTM providers and MTM-eligible beneficiaries, including through consideration of language and use of recognizable terms, to inform beneficiaries about the program and how it can impact them.
• There is a need and opportunity for innovation in MTM program design that can introduce new ways to measure the quality of these services and evolve the way measurement is viewed in this space.

Attendees engaged in a series of special sessions, briefing sessions, innovation theater and networking events, many of which took place throughout the industry showcase. See Pharmacy Times' coverage of the meeting for more insights from this year's sessions. 

Thank you to all our sponsors and exhibitors. 

PQA also presented eight Medicare plan contracts with a PQA Laura Cranston Excellence in Quality or Quality Improvement Award for high achievement or significant improvement in PQA measures of medication safety and appropriate use.  

Save the date to join us at the 2025 PQA Annual Meeting, May 19-21 in Tampa! Sign up to receive updates on all of PQA’s convening events. Attendees can access the information about the meeting in the meeting app through June 7, 2024.