Dental Quality Alliance

The Dental Quality Alliance (DQA) was established in 2008 by the American Dental Association to develop performance measures for oral health care. The DQA is an organization of major stakeholders in oral health care delivery that will use a collaborative approach to develop oral health care measures.

• Mission
• Objectives
• Background on the Development of the Dental Quality Alliance
• Work of the Dental Quality Alliance
• Dental Quality Alliance Organizational Structure
• Current Member Organizations

Mission

The mission of the Dental Quality Alliance is to advance performance measurement as a means to improve oral health, patient care and safety through a consensus-building process.

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Objectives

1. To identify and develop evidence-based oral health care performance measures and measurement resources. 
2. To advance the effectiveness and scientific basis of clinical performance measurement and improvement. 
3. To foster and support professional accountability, transparency, and value in oral health care through the development, implementation and evaluation of performance measurement.

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Background on the Development of the Dental Quality Alliance

In 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed that the American Dental Association (ADA) take the lead in establishing a Dental Quality Alliance (DQA) to develop performance measures for oral health care. In responding to this proposal, the American Dental Association Board of Trustees presented Report 12 to the 2008 House of Delegates: A Dental Quality Alliance. The House then adopted Resolution 34H-2008:

34H-2008. Resolved, that the ADA shall explore the development of a Dental Quality Alliance in the oral health care delivery system, and be it further

Resolved, that after obtaining additional and sufficient information, the Board of Trustees, in consultation with the appropriate ADA agencies, shall determine if participation should be pursued by the ADA.

After consultation with ADA agencies, the Board of Trustees, at its December 2008 meeting, thus adopted Resolutions B-120-2008 and B-121-2008, which provided direction regarding the development of a DQA:

B-120-2008. Resolved, that the American Dental Association should participate in the Dental Quality Alliance (DQA) proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) contingent upon the Association having an authoritative leadership role in the development and operation of the Alliance documented in written communication from the appropriate official at the CMS, and be it further

Resolved, that the Council on Dental Benefits Program in coordination with the Board of Trustees take the lead in the CMS proposal and that Council on Dental Practice and Council on Government Affairs be active in monitoring DQA activities and receive regular reports on the DQA.

B-121-2008. Resolved, that the Association initiate an educational program at the appropriate time aimed at informing members about the Dental Quality Alliance and the rationale for the Association's participation and leadership in its development and operation, using available communication vehicles and resources.

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Work of the Dental Quality Alliance

The Dental Quality Alliance (DQA) has published a resource document titled "Quality Measurement in Dentistry: A Guidebook" to serve as a tool to educate various audiences on the basic purpose, importance, scope of the quality measurement within dentistry. This Guidebook, developed by the DQA Advisory Committee on Education and Communication, serves as the basis for understanding quality measurement in dentistry, and provides an overview of the current status of measurement, the science behind measurement, as well as the role of the Alliance.

• Quality Measurement in Dentistry: A Guidebook (PDF/1.7MB)

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Dental Quality Alliance Organizational Structure

To begin the formation of the DQA, the ADA first identified an Executive Committee that designed the basic structure and operation of the DQA. The Executive Committee is composed of 11 members: one representative each from the ADA Board of Trustees, ADA Council on Government Affairs, ADA Council on Dental Practice, ADA Council on Dental Benefit Programs, ADA Council on Access, Prevention and Interprofessional Relations, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry, the National Association of Dental Plans, the American Dental Education Association, Medicaid/SCHIP Dental Association, and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services.

The Executive Committee held meetings in December 2009 and in March 2010. At those meetings, the Executive Committee developed a DQA mission statement and objectives, designed the basic structure and operation of the DQA and proposed the membership of the DQA. In identifying eligible members of the DQA, the Executive Committee aimed to be as inclusive as possible to facilitate collaboration among all groups that have an interest in improving quality in dentistry. Comprehensive representation is essential to not only foster a robust exchange of ideas, but to develop quality measures that will be accepted as valid by the various communities of interest.

The Dental Quality Alliance is currently composed of 29 member organization and ADA agencies. It has an Executive Committee and 4 advisory committees: 

1. Implementation, Maintenance and Outcomes Assessment 
2. Education and Communication 
3. Governance and Finance 
4. Research and Development of Performance Measures

• Download the Dental Quality Alliance Organization Chart (PDF)

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Current Member Organizations 

The current member organizations of the DQA are:
Academy of General Dentistry	America's Health Insurance Plans
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
American Academy of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology	Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
American Academy of Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology	Council on Access, Prevention, and Interprofessional Relationships (ADA)
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry	Council on Dental Benefit Programs (ADA)
American Academy of Periodontology	Council on Dental Practice (ADA)
American Association of Endodontists	Council on Government Affairs (ADA)
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons	Delta Dental
American Association of Orthodontists	Health Resources and Services Administration
American Association of Public Health Dentistry	Medicaid and SCHIP Dental Association
American College of Prosthodontists	National Association of Dental Plans
American Dental Association's Board of Trustees	National Network for Oral Health Access
American Dental Education Assn	Public Member
American Dental Hygienists' Assn	The Joint Commission
American Medical Association

The development of performance measures will begin in 2011 and will focus on pediatric oral health care programmatic level measures, applicable to the Medicaid/CHIP programs

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