Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug (DMARD) Therapy

INACTIVE REVIEW: This measure review is older than five years.

Percentage of patients 18 years and older with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis who are newly prescribed disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy within 12 months.

Date Reviewed: April 27, 2015
Do Not Support: Uncertain Validity
    Group/Practice Individual Clinician

Measure Info

NQF 2525 Approved for Trial Use
Measure Type
Process
Measure Steward
American College of Rheumatology
Clinical Topic Area
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Care Setting
Outpatient
Data Source
Other

ACP supports NQF 2525 for physicians managing RA, with modifications: “Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug (DMARD) Therapy.” 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 “drug holiday”) or discontinued for such patients and 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.