Two major long-term care groups have joined the Pharmacy Quality Alliance, a new government-sponsored initiative to measure and compare performance in healthcare settings.

The long-term care profession should have “a strong, proactive voice in the development and formulation of long-term care pharmacy policies,” according to Bruce Yarwood, president and CEO of the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living.

Four AHCA/NCAL members will serve as pharmacy alliance representatives. They will provide input on federal and state long-term care pharmacy issues.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services introduced the pharmacy alliance in April. Besides CMS, other partners in the project include America’s Health Insurance Plans, the National Community Pharmacists Association, and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

For more information on the Pharmacy Quality Alliance, go to .