NCQA Awards Full Accreditation to ValueOptions Latham Service Center

LATHAM, N.Y., Nov. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ValueOptions^®, a health improvement company specializing in mental and emotional wellbeing and recovery, today announced that its Latham Service Center received Full Accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). The accreditation runs through Oct. 25, 2015.

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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 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 dedication to providing first-class, accessible care to the people we serve from our Latham Service Center," said Deborah Hirschfelder, ValueOptions Senior Vice President, National Quality Services. "We make it our mission to provide innovative solutions for our members. By accepting nothing but the highest standards of quality for ourselves, we can continue to realize that mission every day."

About NCQA
NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA is committed to providing health care quality information for consumers, purchasers, health care providers and researchers.

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