Five for Friday January 17: Celebrating Success in Advancing Medication Use Quality
PQA has published a new report detailing technical recommendations for advancing health equity with PQA quality measures. Developed by the PQA Health Equity Technical Expert Panel (TEP), it provides key recommendations for PQA measure testing and use in quality programs.
The TEP provided valuable health equity recommendations for PQA measure testing and use in quality programs, while also providing useful direction for future iterations of risk adjustment models. Learn more about the report below.
We also highlight our members' perspectives on value-based primary care, diabetes care and managing kidney disease. If you have news you'd like for us to spotlight in an upcoming Five For Friday, send us an email!
-- Ben Shirley, CPHQ, Senior Director of Performance Measurement

In a cohort study, Walgreens pharmacists aimed to demonstrate a retail pharmacy hired and trained clinical pharmacist within a value-based primary care clinic network can improve hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus control. Statistically significant reductions in systolic blood pressure and hemoglobinA1c were observed in the pharmacist-managed group compared with matched controls. These results demonstrate that pharmacist integration into a value based primary care clinic may improve measures of chronic disease associated with morbidity and mortality.
Evaluating the Impact of Neighborhoods on Diabetes Care
UPMC Health Plan managed care pharmacists have studied the health effects of living in different neighborhoods in people with diabetes. They found that those living in more disadvantaged areas were less likely to get diabetes laboratory tests and fill their diabetes medications. They also found that those living in more deprived neighborhoods had more hospital visit stays and higher costs. The results of this study can be used to target interventions for managed care pharmacies.
Managing Chronic Kidney Disease
Pharmacists can educate patients on controlling risk factors and stay up-to-date on emerging therapies like SGLT2 inhibitors and finerenone that can slow disease progression. Denise Kelley, PharmD, BCPS, FASHP, clinical assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy says there is regularly new data on the available treatment and care management options and where these new therapies might have a place in managing patients across the spectrum, both, diabetes, patients without diabetes, who have chronic kidney disease.

PQA is committed to addressing health equity in its current and future measurement activities as a pillar of its strategic plan, Blueprint PQA 2025. To meet this need, and to advance its health equity strategy and integrate an equity focus into measurement related activities, the PQA Health Equity Technical Expert Panel (TEP) was convened to focus on practical and meaningful technical approaches.
In December, PQA published a new report, Technical Recommendations for Advancing Health Equity with PQA Quality Measures, which details the TEP’s valuable recommendations that serve as a roadmap to more equitably enhance medication use quality measurement.
PQA encourages users of PQA measures, such as CMS and health plans, to leverage these recommendations to explore where disparities may exist in their own performance. For questions or inquiries about this report or the PQA Health Equity Technical Expert Panel, contact PQA at [email protected]..
Your Next Engagement Opportunities
Network, Learn and Collaborate with PQA
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Save the date for PQA's next Quality Forum Webinar on February 13, 2025, 1-2 pm ET.
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Save the date to join us at the 2025 PQA Annual Meeting, May 19-21, at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street in Tampa, Fla. Poster abstract proposals are due Friday, January 10. Learn more.
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Save the date to join us at the 2025 PQA Leadership Summit, November 13-14, in Arlington Va.