NCQA Awards Full Accreditation to the ValueOptions® Great Lakes Service Center

WIXOM, Mich. and NORFOLK, Va., Nov. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ValueOptions^® today announced that its Great Lakes Service Center received Full Accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). The three-year accreditation runs through October 25, 2015.

NCQA is an independent, not-for-profit organization that accredits and certifies a wide range of managed behavioral healthcare organizations (MBHOs). NCQA MBHO Accreditation is a nationally recognized evaluation that purchasers, regulators and consumers can use to assess managed behavioral health care organizations. NCQA MBHO Accreditation evaluates how well a health plan manages all parts of its delivery system – physicians, hospitals, other providers and administrative services – in order to continuously improve health care for its members.

NCQA MBHO Accreditation is a voluntary review process. NCQA reviews include thorough onsite and offsite evaluations conducted by a team of physicians and managed care experts. A national oversight committee of physicians and behavioral health providers analyzes the team's findings and assigns an accreditation level based on the MBHO's performance compared to NCQA standards.

Full Accreditation is granted for a period of three years to those plans that have excellent programs for continuous quality improvement and meet NCQA's rigorous standards. NCQA MBHO Accreditation standards are developed with input from employers, health plans, state and federal regulators, MBHOs and other experts and are demanding. Standards are set high to encourage MBHOs to continuously enhance their quality.

NCQA MBHO Accreditation standards are intended to help organizations achieve the highest level of performance possible, reduce patient risk for untoward outcomes and create an environment of continuous improvement.

There are approximately 60 standards for quality included in the following categories:

• Quality management and improvement
• Utilization management
• Credentialing and re-credentialing
• Members' rights and responsibilities
• Preventive behavioral health care services

"The NCQA Accreditation confirms our emphasis on continuously improving quality in all areas of our organization and, most importantly, reflects our dedication to provide our membership with easy access to quality clinical care," said Dave Busch, ValueOptions Senior Vice President, Commercial Division. "This is an important recognition of our commitment to the work we do and the people we serve from our Great Lakes Service Center."

About ValueOptions

ValueOptions^® is a health improvement company that serves more than 32 million individuals. On behalf of employers, health plans and government agencies, we manage innovative programs and solutions that directly address the challenges our health care system faces today. A national leader in the fields of mental and emotional wellbeing, recovery and resilience, employee assistance, and wellness, ValueOptions helps people make the difficult life changes needed to be healthier and more productive. With offices nationwide and a network of more than 130,000 provider locations, ValueOptions helps people take important steps in the right direction. We help them live their lives to the fullest potential. Visit www.valueoptions.com for more information.

SOURCE ValueOptions