HealthPartners is among six organizations to receive a new accreditation as an Accountable Care Organization from the National Committee for Quality Assurance, a leading non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality.
“By earning NCQA Accreditation HealthPartners has demonstrated to payers and other purchasers that it has met challenging requirements designed to show the efficiency, integration and high quality expected of an ACO”
To receive NCQA ACO accreditation which is valid for three years, organizations had to demonstrate the ability to improve quality, reduce costs and coordinate whole-person care throughout the health care system. HealthPartners underwent a rigorous assessment of 14 standards and 65 elements that include access to providers, patient-centered primary care, care management, care coordination and transitions and performance reporting and quality improvement. The NCQA also collected data on key clinical and service measures such as mammography screening rates, comprehensive diabetes care and consumer satisfaction.
“ACO accreditation demonstrates that HealthPartners model of care is achieving the three aims of improving health, delivering an excellent experience and lowering the cost of care,” said Beth Waterman, HealthPartners chief improvement officer.
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also has several ACO programs. Unlike the Medicare ACO programs, the NCQA ACO accreditation is based on the quality of care for all patients, not just Medicare enrollees.
“By earning NCQA Accreditation HealthPartners has demonstrated to payers and other purchasers that it has met challenging requirements designed to show the efficiency, integration and high quality expected of an ACO,” said Margaret E. O’Kane, President of NCQA.
In addition to HealthPartners, the other health care organizations receiving NCQA ACO accreditation are Billings Clinic in Montana, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Crystal Run Healthcare, Middletown, NY, Essentia Health, Duluth, MN, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, Houston, TX.