The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) developed performance and quality measures to help Medicare beneficiaries make informed decisions regarding health and prescription drug plans. As part of this effort, CMS adopted measures for High Risk Medication (HRM) endorsed by the Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) and the National Quality Forum (NQF). The HRM was developed using existing Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) measurement “Drugs to be avoided in the elderly”. The HRM rate analyzes the percentage of Medicare Part D beneficiaries 65 years or older who have received prescriptions for drugs with a high risk of serious side effects in the elderly.