American Specialty Health Successfully Renews NCQA 'Organizational Certification' in Credentialing and Utilization Management Dec 13, 2007
SAN DIEGO, Dec. 13, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- American Specialty Health (ASH), one of the nation's premier personal health improvement organizations, recently secured a renewed certification from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for both credentialing and utilization management. The new certification is effective October 12, 2007 through October 12, 2009. (Primezone Releases)
Business Coalition Honors BlueChoice HealthPlan for Migraine Program Nov 22, 2007
BlueChoice HealthPlan has an A+ rating from A.M. Best and an excellent accreditation status, the highest level awarded, from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). BlueChoice HealthPlan has more than 7,000 physicians in its statewide network and serves approximately 212,000 members statewide. (PR Newswire)
Kaiser Permanente Recognized by NCQA for Innovative Program to Reduce Health Care Disparities Nov 17, 2007
Nov. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kaiser Permanente has received the "Recognizing Innovation in Multicultural Health Care Award" from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for its efforts to provide health plan members across t`he country with culturally and linguistically appropriate health care services. "Kaiser Permanente has created an innovative program that health plans nationwide should use as a model for bridging language and cultural gaps that so easily get in the way of... (PR Newswire)
Health: Arizona Medicaid chief disputes national study findings Nov 5, 2007
Research by the National Committee for Quality Assurance published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled in managed care plans get subpar care. The results showed standard commercial health plans performed substantially better in nearly all of the 11 quality indicators studied. (Phoenix Business Journal, AZ)
HealthPartners Among Best Health Plans in the Nation for 3rd Year in U.S. News/NCQA 'America's Best Health Plans' 2007 Oct 31, 2007
"This affirms that our work to offer the best possible health care and support the best possible health for our members is achieving results. We make that effort our top priority and care deeply about improving healthcare and the value we offer our members." said Mary Brainerd, HealthPartners president and CEO. NCQA, the National Committee for Quality Assurance, is a nonprofit organization that accredits and certifies health care organizations and tracks and measures health plan performance. The... (PR Newswire)
Kaiser Hawaii gets top marks for Medicaid Oct 30, 2007
ranked sixth for having the best prevention and treatment options, according to U.S. News and World Report and the National Committee for Quality Assurance. The health plans were ranked based on consumer satisfaction surveys that covered how well the health plans covered services such as screenings, children's immunizations and treating heart disease. (Bizjournals.com)
Harvard Pilgrim ranked top health plan in nation Oct 26, 2007
For the third year running, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care was named the best health insurance company in the country, according to rankings compiled by the respected nonprofit National Committee for Quality Assurance for US News and World Report magazine ... The National Committee for Quality Assurance also ranks privately administered Medicare plans, which provide health coverage to senior citizens, and Medicaid plans, which provide assistance to those with low incomes. (Boston Globe)
State report card: HMOs need to help more with diabetes, obesity Oct 19, 2007
The state's report card of health care quality relies on existing published data, such as quality measures used for accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. The report card also allows consumers to find specific information on care, such as how consistently a medical group tests for cholesterol or whether a plan helps smokers to quit. (San Francisco Chronicle)
American Specialty Health Names Robert White President and COO Oct 17, 2007
Additionally, White oversaw the merger integration activities of Health Net and Foundation Health, and he supported efforts to obtain a three-year National Committee for Quality Assurance accreditation for the new firm. White was also president and chief executive officer of CareAmerica Health Plans, where he was responsible for the growth and profitability of all CareAmerica companies, including CareAmerica's HMO, Life Insurance Company, CareAmerica Michigan, and CareAmerica Compensation. (Primezone Releases)
Medicaid Managed Care Seems to Fall Short Oct 11, 2007
The study authors looked at information on 11 quality measures from all 383 health plans that reported quality-of-care data to the National Committee for Quality Assurance for 2002 and 2003. This included 204 commercial-only plans, 142 mixed Medicaid/commercial plans and 37 Medicaid-only plans. (MEDLINEplus)
U.S. health care improves, but costs too much: report Sep 26, 2007
Treatment for conditions such as heart attack are exemplary, the National Committee for Quality Assurance found. But fewer than 20 percent of patients with heart disease have their cholesterol down to recommended levels, the group found in its annual report card on health care quality. (Scientific American)
Some health plans better, others uncertain: study Sep 26, 2007
In an annual evaluation it conducts on health-care plans, the National Committee for Quality Assurance said critical gains were made in a number of areas, but those strides were smaller than in past years. And since reporting to the committee is voluntary, health-care plans servicing the majority of Americans remain unaccounted for as there is no governmental oversight of the industry's performance. (MarketWatch)
Eulogy for a Quality Measure Sep 21, 2007
This measure will no longer be reported by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) because it is simply no longer needed a development that offers encouragement and important lessons ... Dr. Lee is network president at Partners Healthcare System, Boston, cochair of the Committee on Performance Measurement for the National Committee for Quality Assurance, and an associate editor of the Journal. (New England Journal of Medicine)
AMERIGROUP Names Mary McCluskey, MD, Chief Medical Officer Sep 18, 2007
Under her guidance, the company's Northeast region earned an excellent accreditation rating from the National Committee for Quality Assurance ... AMERIGROUP offers disease management programs for 11 different conditions, ranging from asthma and diabetes to AIDS and schizophrenia, eight of which are accredited by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. (PR Newswire)
Independence Blue Cross Makes Music for Members' Ears Sep 7, 2007
Independence Blue Cross's HMO and PPO health care plans have consistently received the highest ratings from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Source: Independence Blue Cross. (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
Sunday Forum: Nation building is needed at home Sep 2, 2007
Over the last decade or two, the federally subsidized VHA has become a worldwide leader in the invention and adoption of health-information technology, and the independent National Committee for Quality Assurance, considered the gold standard in ranking health care, has given its highest ranking to the VHA. In every one of 17 metrics measured, it gave the VHA its top ranking, ahead of such esteemed facilities as Johns Hopkins, the Mayo Clinic and Massachusetts General Hospital. Returning... (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Study Says COPD Testing Is Not Measuring Up Aug 14, 2007
Along with colleagues from Johns Hopkins University, the University of Washington, and the National Committee for Quality Assurance, Dr. Han identified patients with newly diagnosed COPD by data collected from five health plans. The study examined patients aged 40 years and older, and determined if patients with a new diagnosis of COPD had received spirometry in the preceeding 720 days. (Science Daily)
California plans PPO report cards Aug 6, 2007
Richard Sorian, vice president of public policy for the National Committee for Quality Assurance, a national nonprofit group that provides information about the quality of health plans, said California's decision to push PPO plans toward broader reporting was likely to spur other states to do likewise and was "absolutely necessary if we are ever really going to effect change for most health insurance customers.". According to the group's most recent annual report, people in health plans that... (Los Angeles Times)
Business Briefcase Jul 29, 2007
Physicians at Geisinger Medical Group clinics in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties received recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance and the American Diabetes Association for providing quality care to patients with diabetes. Those recognized were: Nicole Alu, Anthony Aquilina, Frederick Bloom, Nicholas Chiumento, Stephen Evans, Michael Fisher, Nancy Gilhooley, Gaye Gustitus, Richard Huntington, Bruce Jacobs, Michael Kordek, Gunnar Kosek, Kimberly Ann Kovalick, Heather... (Scranton Times, PA)
Cornerstone heart doctors win recognition Jul 27, 2007
The program is administered by the National Committee for Quality Assurance and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. The recognition is good for three years. (Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area)
CompCare has strategic deal with Seattle company Jul 10, 2007
The National Committee for Quality Assurance has accredited it since 1999. Extra. (Tampa Bay Business Journal, FL)
Crist is Misinformed on Facts Surrounding Controversy Over Care for Florida AIDS Patients Jun 25, 2007
AHF's Positive Healthcare is the first of only two disease management organizations to also receive full accreditation for HIV/AIDS disease management from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), a national non-profit organization that measures and advocates for health care quality. The decision to transfer healthcare from this well respected organization to a politically connected for-profit organization with little HIV/AIDS experience is unconscionable and not in the best... (PR Newswire)
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and the State Health Plan Reward North Carolina Physicians for Raising the Quality of Care Jun 12, 2007
Bridges to Excellence participants include large employers, health plans, the National Committee for Quality Assurance, Medstat, and WebMD Health, among others. The organizations are united in their shared goal of improving health care quality through measurement, reporting, rewards and education. (Yahoo News -- Press Releases)
Satisfied with your health care? Don't be May 23, 2007
In recent years several public and private groups, including the National Committee for Quality Assurance, have been working to detail the basic standards of care for hospitals, doctors and health insurance plans. The goal is to give individuals and employers the tools to make wise decisions. (MSNBC -- Health)
Women Lag Men in Cholesterol Control May 22, 2007
The reasons for the gender gap aren't certain, but several factors likely contribute, according to study co-author Dr. Sarah Hudson Scholle of the National Committee for Quality Assurance in Washington. "Women sometimes underestimate their heart disease risk," Scholle told Reuters Health, and this means that cholesterol control may not be a priority for many. (Newsmax)
Women Less Likely Than Men To Have Their Cholesterol Controlled, Study Suggests May 17, 2007
Women are significantly less likely than men to have their LDL cholesterol controlled to recommended levels, according to a new study by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). The study, to be published in the May/June edition of Women's Health Issues, investigated gender differences in cardiovascular disease prevention, treatment and risk factors based on national health care quality data from commercial and Medicare managed care plans. (Science Daily)
Women lagging behind men for cholesterol control May 17, 2007
Researchers at the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) looked at 11 measures of cardiovascular disease and diabetes prevention, treatment and risk factors among patients in 46 commercial managed care plans and 148 Medicare plans. On most of the measures, women had equal or better outcomes than men. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
CHT's Georgia Project Leads to Increase in Physicians Recognized for Providing Best Standards of Care for Diabetes Apr 29, 2007
(Photo: ) The Diabetes Physician Recognition Program (DPRP), a national program developed by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), was created in order to honor physicians and physician groups who provide high-quality diabetes care ... More about the NCQA's DPRP Programs: The National Committee for Quality Assurance developed the Diabetes Physician Recognition Program in partnership with the ADA in 1997. (PR Newswire)
Physicians see benefits of electronic medical records Apr 20, 2007
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), a widely respected organization that pushes for higher-quality medical care, has made the conversion to electronic medical records one of its priorities. Converting to electronic records, the committee says on its Web site, helps doctors monitor their patients' medical histories, work with patients outside of office visits, follow up on tests prescribed for patients and avoid medical errors. (Laurel Leader, MD)
Should kids take antidepressants? Apr 18, 2007
Only about 20% of patients who are prescribed antidepressants return to their doctor for the recommended minimum of three follow-up visits in the 12 weeks following their diagnosis, according to the National Committee for Quality Assurance, a nonprofit organization that evaluates health care and is based in Washington, DC. Black-box labels have had no effect on those numbers, which have remained largely unchanged since 1999. "The problem is that the healthcare system is generally well organized... (Nature News Service)
Middlesex County pension plan files suit vs. Monster Mar 16, 2007
In a national ranking last fall by the nonprofit National Committee for Quality Assurance, Harvard Pilgrim ranked first, Tufts was second, and Blue Cross was fourth. (Jeffrey Krasner). (Boston Globe -- Business)
Best practices Mar 11, 2007
Recent studies from the Rand Corporation, the New England Journal of Medicine, and the National Committee for Quality Assurance, a healthcare watchdog organization, ranked the VA system, by a variety of criteria, as better not only than the sort of care offered by Medicare but even the best civilian healthcare plans. Phillip Longman, a fellow at the New America Foundation and author of the forthcoming book "Best Care Anywhere: Why VA Health Care Is Better Than Yours," says that among the... (Boston Globe)
Tufts Health Plan to reduce staff Feb 1, 2007
Tufts was named the second-best health plan in the country in October by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Harvard Pilgrim was first. (The Standard-Times, MA)
Tufts HMO to cut 10% of its staff Jan 31, 2007
In October, it was named the second-best health plan in the country by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, a respected nonprofit. The rankings reflect a mix of customer satisfaction and superior clinical outcomes that improve the health of members. (Boston Globe)
22 St. John's physicians recognized Jan 11, 2007
The recognition comes from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) through its Diabetes Physician Recognition Program. NCQA is a private, nonprofit group that accredits health-care organizations. (St. Louis Business Journal, MO)
