MVP Health Care Earns Excellent NCQA Accreditation for Commercial and Medicare HMO/POS Plans

SCHENECTADY, NY (12/14/2011)(readMedia)-- The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has awarded Excellent Accreditation, its highest accreditation status, to the MVP Health Care commercial and Medicare HMO and point-of-service plans (POS) plans.

NCQA is an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to measuring the quality of America's health care. NCQA Accreditation is a nationally recognized evaluation that purchasers, regulators and consumers can use to assess managed care plans.

NCQA's Accreditation standards are purposely set high to encourage health plans to continuously enhance their quality. NCQA Accreditation surveys include rigorous on-site and off-site evaluations of more 60 standards and selected Health Employer Data Information Set (HEDIS®) performance measures. A team of physicians and managed care experts conducts accreditation surveys. A national oversight committee of physicians analyzes the team's findings and assigns an accreditation level based on the performance level of each plan.

Excellent Accreditation is granted for a period of three years to health plans for service and quality that meets or exceeds NCQA's rigorous requirements for consumer protection and quality improvement. NCQA's Accreditation standards are publicly reported in five categories: Access and Service, Qualified Providers, Staying Healthy, Getting Better, and Living with Illness. MVP's NCQA accreditation is effective through December, 2014.

"Excellent Accreditation from NCQA is important to MVP because it sends a clear message to our members, employers and participating providers -- MVP delivers high-quality care and service. It also ensures that MVP has programs in place for continuous quality improvement," said David W. Oliker, MVP president and CEO.

"The NCQA Accreditation process is recognized as the gold standard by employers and consumers,' said Allen Hinkle, M.D., MVP executive vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer. "Our Excellent Accreditation status confirms that MVP works closely with our participating providers to ensure consistent, high quality patient care to our members. We sincerely appreciate the dedication and support of our participating providers," he said.

About MVP Health Care

Founded in 1983, MVP Health Care is a community-focused, not-for-profit health insurer serving members in the states of New York, Vermont and New Hampshire. Through its operating subsidiaries, MVP Health Care provides fully insured and self-funded employer health benefits plans, dental insurance, and ancillary products, such as flexible-spending accounts, to more than 700,000 subscribers. For more information, visit: www.mvphealthcare.com.