Use of community pharmacy-provided diabetes services to aid physicians in the National Committee for Quality Assurance recognition program.

Background: Pay-for-performance (P4P) models are being adopted by many health care payers, including Medicare, for payment of physician services. To receive financial incentives in P4P programs, physicians are encouraged to attain recognition or credentialing from an agency, such as the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

Objective: To explore the potential roles of a community pharmacy-provided diabetes services in collaboration with physicians and to assist them in becoming acknowledged by the NCQA Diabetes Physician Recognition Program.

Summary: KDI Health Solutions pharmacists have demonstrated success in the management of diabetes through the Asheville Project and the Diabetes Ten City Challenge. Continued pharmacists' efforts may focus on expanding current disease state management programs, community pharmacy diabetes education programs, and collaborative practices with physicians. Studies are currently being conducted to assess physician willingness to use pharmacists as part of the NCQA recognition process.

Conclusion: Collaboration of physicians and pharmacists may improve diabetes standards of care and aid physicians in becoming NCQA-recognized providers. NCQA-recognized physicians can align themselves with current and future P4P programs.