Five for Friday January 30: Celebrating Success in Advancing Medication Use Quality
Welcome to Five For Friday!
Join us for the next PQA Quality Forum Webinar on Thursday, February 12, from 1:00-2:00 pm ET, focused on social determinants of health (SDOH) and the role of community health workers (CHW) as partners to address barriers that affect medication access, use and outcomes.
PQA Education Director Tammy Malm, PharmD, MPH, BCPS, will open the forum with an overview of the PQA Social Determinants of Health Resource Guide Companion, which provides insights on key characteristics of effective partnerships among pharmacies, other health care organizations and community organizations to address SDOH barriers affecting medication access, use and outcomes. Learn more below.
We also highlight our members' perspectives on 2027 MA and Part D payment policies, specialty pharmacy and oral GLP-1s. If you have news you'd like for us to spotlight in an upcoming Five For Friday, send us an email!
-- Melody Evans, PharmD, PQA Executive Fellow
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposed 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D payment policies to improve payment accuracy and sustainability. PQA member organizations, including AHIP and the Alliance of Community Health Plans provide reactions to the proposal.
Evaluating Policy Impact on Specialty Pharmacy
National Association of Specialty Pharmacy CEO Sheila Arquette says the Inflation Reduction Act’s drug negotiation provisions, the new Medicare Transaction Facilitator infrastructure, "maximum fair price" constructs, MFN-style reference pricing, and the emergence of TrumpRx and other direct-to-consumer channels together represent a major structural realignment for specialty pharmacy.
Considering Patient Journeys with Oral GLP-1s
Pleio Chief Pharmacy Officer Mark Gregory shares insights on how oral GLP-1 medications will impact the patient journey. GLP-1 therapies gain popularity, but patient adherence struggles due to fragmented support and emotional barriers. For many patients, the oral dosage form alone makes treatment feel more approachable, but easier access does not automatically translate to better outcomes.
PQA Quality Forum Webinar 
The February 12 PQA Quality Forum Webinar will focus on social determinants of health (SDOH) and the role of community health workers (CHW) as partners to address barriers that affect medication access, use and outcomes.
Kim Jay, BA, is a Training Manager and Senior Community Health Worker, and Consultant at the Sinai Urban Health Institute in Chicago, Ill. Jay will share real-world experiences and national initiatives that demonstrate how CHWs can be integrated into the pharmacy workflow to bridge the gap between the pharmacy and the community. Her insights will provide actionable ideas to strengthen pharmacy-community partnerships and advance equitable medication use.
PQA Executive Fellow Melody Evans, PharmD, RPh, will host the forum and moderate an audience question-and-answer session following the presentations.
Your Next Engagement Opportunities
Network, Learn and Collaborate with PQA
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Join us for PQA's next Quality Forum Webinar on February 12, 2026, 1-2 p.m. ET. This event is scheduled to feature a discussion on the social determinants of health and the new PQA SDOH Resource Guide Companion. Register here.
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Save the date for the 2nd Quarter 2026 PQA Member Webinar on April 29, 1-2 p.m. ET. PQA Member Webinars share current quality measurement and research updates with members.
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Save the date to join us at the 2026 PQA Annual Meeting, May 12-14, at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Md. Registration will open soon. Learn more.