Five for Friday June 20: Celebrating Success in Advancing Medication Use Quality
Welcome to Five For Friday!
PQA invites public comments on one measure being considered for endorsement and three PQA-endorsed measures considered for retirement. We encourage you to discuss these measures with colleagues and business associates.
PQA is accepting comments through Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Following the public comment period, PQA member organizations will have the opportunity to vote electronically on each of the measures. Learn more about this comment opportunity below.
We also highlight our members' perspectives on patient outcomes, specialty pharmacy and technology. If you have news you'd like for us to spotlight in an upcoming Five For Friday, send us an email!
-- Heather Gibson, MSPH, PQA Director of Performance Measurement
Vanderbilt University Medical Center Pharmacy's Lindsey Orton discussed how pharmacists improve patient outcomes in chronic graft-vs-host disease (cGVHD) by addressing accessibility and tolerability challenges, optimizing drug regimens, managing adherence, and fostering trust with patients to ensure consistent therapy and long-term success. "The critical aspect of these interventions is the trust between pharmacists and patients."
Studying the Increasing Role of Specialty Pharmacy
A recent study from XiFin finds specialty pharmacy is poised to step into a more significant role in addressing patient care needs, with a focus on managing chronic conditions that require increasingly complex medication regimens. “As the population continues to age and the burden of chronic conditions grows, the demand for specialty pharmacy services is rising rapidly, and pharmacists are poised to do even more for their patients.”
Optimizing Technology to Deliver Clinical Services
Todd Sega of PQS by Innovaccer discussed how pharmacies are transforming into critical health care partners. The trend towards expanded pharmacy services is driven by rising health care costs, an aging population, and the need for more accessible solutions. Emerging technologies like EQUIPP Copilot aim to make it easier for pharmacists to access important patient information and clinical opportunities without leaving their current workflow.
Comments Invited on PQA Measures for Endorsement and Retirement 
PQA invites public comments on one measure being considered for endorsement and three PQA-endorsed measures considered for retirement. The deadline to submit comments is June 24.
- Endorsement of one new HEALTH PLAN measure:
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Treatment Ratio (CTR)
- Retirement of two PQA-endorsed HEALTH PLAN measures and one PQA-endorsed PHARMACY measure:
- Use of Medications to Prevent Major Cardiovascular Events in Persons with Diabetes (CVDM)
- Medication Therapy Problem Resolution (MTPR)
- Primary Medication Nonadherence [Pharmacy] (PMN-PH)
Comments will be posted approximately one week following the close of the public comment period in the Member Resources Library and will be available during the membership voting period. Comments are available on request to non-PQA members.
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 Thursday, July 17, 1-2 pm ET. The PQA Quality Forum Webinar is a regular, recurring series on best practices and emerging trends in medication use quality, medication services and other initiatives that can improve health care quality.
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PQA's Measure Endorsement and Retirement Meeting is September 18, 1-2 p.m. ET. The PQA Measure Endorsement and Retirement Meeting is hosted by PQA staff to discuss the measures and address questions and is for PQA members only. The registration link is in the Member Resources Library.
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Save the date for the 2025 PQA Leadership Summit, November 13-14 in Arlington, Va. The summit convenes thought leaders, key decision makers, and quality stakeholders to interactively and collaboratively develop strategies to improve medication use quality and is an invitation-only event.