Early in the measure life cycle, PQA solicits multi-stakeholder input to evaluate and prioritize health plan measure concepts for future development. To support measure conceptualization in 2025, PQA convened a Measure Concept Advisory Group (MCAG) and conducted a public comment period to inform future measure development, with a particular focus on addressing meaningful gaps in medication use quality while ensuring measure concepts are evidence-based and usable in real-world settings. 

The MCAG was composed of representatives from PQA member organizations and individuals representing patients, caregivers, and patient advocates. The MCAG met three times between July and September to review and discuss measure concepts across four clinical topic areas: 

Through discussion and a ranking exercise, MCAG members identified diabetes and cardiovascular risk reduction as the highest priority topic area, followed by heart failure. Members noted that this prioritization reflected the high prevalence of these conditions, their associated costs, the increasing use of newer, high-cost therapies, and the strong evidence demonstrating effectiveness of these therapies in improving patient outcomes. 

The MCAG also reviewed and ranked five specific measure concepts based on their importance, feasibility, and usability: 

MCAG members noted the importance of these topic areas and concepts but highlighted the usability of the measure concepts. They emphasized challenges related to identifying eligible populations, the potential need for supplemental clinical data such as laboratory values, and the risk of overlap with existing measures. Cost considerations were also frequently discussed, particularly for medication classes such as SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists. 

Feedback from the public comment period largely aligned with MCAG discussions and reinforced several key themes. Commenters emphasized the importance of collaboration with other measure developers to reduce duplicative efforts and promote alignment. Many expressed support for the measure concepts, noting alignment with clinical guidelines and demonstrated improvements in patient outcomes. 

Feasibility considerations were an important part of feedback and helped highlight opportunities to strengthen future measure development. Stakeholders noted that several concepts would benefit from more consistent access to diagnosis and laboratory data across health systems. 

PQA will use input from the MCAG and public comment period to prioritize a measure concept for development in 2026. A Technical Expert Panel (TEP) will be convened in 2026 to begin the specification of the selected measure concept.