PQA introduces new performance measure initiative

SPRINGFIELD, Va. — Pharmacy Quality Alliance on Monday introduced a new performance measure initiative that examines how patient socioeconomic and demographic characteristics affect performance measures.

"Health outcomes can be influenced by many factors other than the healthcare services received,” Dr. Woody Eisenberg, SVP of Performance Measurement and Strategic Alliances for PQA, said. “Patient-related factors such as existing clinical conditions and sociodemographic status also play an important role. Avoiding incorrect conclusions about the quality of care delivered is important to consumers in making informed decisions about where to obtain care; to payers, health plans, and providers regarding rewards and penalties; and to providers and plans in terms of reputation and the ability to improve care for the various subpopulations that they serve."

PQA is currently assembling a sociodemographic status risk adjustment advisory group to identify measures appropriate for risk adjustment and define a valid risk adjustment methodology, according to the alliance. It will focus on medication adherence measures, such as proportion of days covered for diabetes medications, cholesterol lowering medications and blood pressure medications.

PQA has also published an article in the July/August edition of the American Journal of Pharmacy Benefits that addresses  the impact of adjusting for patient-related sociodemographic factors when measuring the quality of care delivered by healthcare providers, and the role PQA is taking in applying the concept of sociodemographic status risk adjustment to PQA measures, the alliance said.