NCQA to launch ACO accreditation program
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The program will evaluate organizations in seven areas, including:
- ACO structure and operations—The organization clearly defines its organizational structure, demonstrates capability to manage resources and aligns provider incentives through payment arrangements and other mechanisms to promote the delivery of efficient and effective care.
- Access to needed providers—The organization has sufficient numbers and types of practitioners and provides timely access to culturally competent healthcare.
- Patient-centered primary care—The primary-care practices within the organization act as a medical home for patients.
- Care management—The organization collects, integrates and uses data from various sources for care management, performance reporting and identifying patients for population health programs. The organization provides resources to patients and practitioners to support care management activities.
- Care coordination and transitions—The organization facilitates the timely exchange of information between providers, patients and their caregivers to promote safe transitions.
- Patient rights and responsibilities—The organization informs patients about the role of the ACO and its services. It is transparent about its clinical performance and any performance-based financial incentives offered to practitioners.
- Performance reporting and quality improvement—The organization measures and publicly reports performance on clinical quality of care, patient experience and cost measures. The organization identifies opportunities for improvement and brings together providers and stakeholders to collaborate on improvement initiatives.
According to the Washington, D.C.-based organization, three strengths distinguish NCQA's approach to ACOs including leadership in evaluating patient-centered primary care, expertise using measurement to improve health and healthcare and high standards that—by design—only the best-prepared ACOs will be able to meet.
"As NCQA moves to release this product, we will be recruiting organizations who believe they are at the forefront of ACO development to be Early Adopters," the organization stated on its website.
Benefits of being an early adopter include:
- Promotion in an NCQA press release this fall. NCQA recognizes early adopters as the first to demonstrate its commitment to measurement, transparency and improvement;
- Survey fee discount; and
- Exclusive ACO education sessions. Early adopters receive exclusive online program overview sessions with NCQA staff.