Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug (DMARD) Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis
The percentage of patients 18 years and older by the end of the measurement period, diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and who had at least one ambulatory prescription for a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug.
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Health Plan
Integrated Delivery System
Measure Info
ACP supports NQF 0054 for physicians managing Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), with modifications: 鈥淒isease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug (DMARD) Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis.鈥 The current evidence supports the benefit of DMARD therapy in reducing the symptoms of RA and decelerating the progression of joint damage. Furthermore, a wide range of DMARD prescribing across health plans in the 2013 measurement year suggests a performance gap. However, given the availability of highly effective therapies and a more aggressive therapeutic approach than in previous decades, remission or minimal disease activity is now achievable for a significant numbers of patients (10-30%). Therefore, DMARD therapy may be appropriately withheld for a period of time (a 鈥渄rug holiday鈥) or discontinued for such patients. Hence, minimal disease activity or clinical remission should be included in the denominator exclusions. This is a physician level measure and should only be applicable to physicians who are managing and providing medical therapy for RA. Most often this will apply to rheumatologists, but primary care physicians may also manage RA.