NCQA Selects Arizona as First Partner to Support Providers With Health Equity Accreditation

WASHINGTON, September 23, 2024 (Newswire.com) - The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) today announced a partnership with the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) to support the state Medicaid’s managed care organizations (MCOs), accountable care organizations, clinically integrated networks (CINs), and providers participating in the Targeted Investments (TI) 2.0 Program by coordinating activities that support Health Equity Accreditation.

This partnership will leverage each sector’s strengths to address health disparities from a population health lens, such as data collection, evaluation, community engagement and access to culturally and linguistically responsive providers, and the individual’s perspective, such as health care experience and overall quality of life. A subset of participating provider organizations (approximately 40 organizations comprising 120 medical, behavioral health or integrated outpatient clinics) are pioneering NCQA’s Health Equity Accreditation, which will allow health centers to earn the rigorous Accreditation seal originally developed for health plans. Most AHCCCS MCOs have earned NCQA Health Equity Accreditation, but this is a first for many participants.

“NCQA’s partnership with the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System will help elevate health equity programs across the state,” said NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane. “The AHCCCS TI 2.0 Program and NCQA’s Health Equity Accreditation program are both committed to helping health systems create better outcomes for patients by incentivizing a whole-person care system.”

“Our goal of improving health equity for target populations by addressing health-related social needs remains a priority. We plan to use national benchmark data to enhance our annual performance,” said Carmen Heredia, AHCCCS director. “AHCCCS believes that NCQA’s Health Equity Accreditation program offers a consistent approach to promoting standardized structures, processes and policies, which will enhance health equity across Arizona.”

The Targeted Investments 2.0 Program is one of several AHCCCS programs supporting whole-person care and health equity initiatives. Building from the original TI program (2016–2022), AHCCCS and Arizona State University partners provide structured guidance, support and incentives for nearly 150 provider organizations (500 outpatient clinics statewide) participating in the TI 2.0 program to identify and address individuals’ medical, behavioral and health-related social needs, as well as health disparities in their patient population, through 2027. 

“The AHCCCS and NCQA partnership uses evidence-based methods to help health systems and clinics successfully implement the NCQA Health Equity Accreditation program,” said Dr. William Riley, Professor at Arizona State University and Director of the National Safety Net Advancement Center. “The NCQA Health Equity Accreditation program is an important step to help advance better care for all populations.”

Through financial incentives, this program supports and rewards outpatient primary care and behavioral health providers to develop comprehensive, whole-person care systems that addresses social risk factors that negatively affect health and contribute to health inequities among patients.

Find more information about the program at NCQA Health Equity Accreditation for AHCCCS TI 2.0.

About NCQA

NCQA is a private, nonprofit 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’s Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS^®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA’s website (ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make informed health care choices. NCQA can also be found at Twitter/X @ncqa and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/ncqa.

About AHCCCS

Founded in 1982, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) is Arizona's Medicaid agency that offers health care programs to serve Arizona residents. Built on a system of competition and choice, AHCCCS operates under an integrated managed care model, through a Research and Demonstration 1115 Waiver. Contracted health plans coordinate and pay for physical and behavioral health care services delivered by more than 93,000 health care providers to more than 2 million Arizonans.

Source: National Commitee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)