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Health plan receives NCQA's highest accreditation
level for service and clinical quality
Springfield, MA June 13, 2003-- Health New England announced today it has been awarded "Excellent" accreditation for its commercial HMO and point of service products from the National Committee for Quality Assurance, an independent, nonprofit organization that evaluates and reports on health care quality.
HNE's "Excellent" status is NCQA's highest accreditation level for service and clinical quality. The accreditation reflects performance that meets or exceeds NCQA's requirements for consumer protection and quality improvement.
"Earning 'Excellent' accreditation reflects a health plan's ability to work with their members and their physicians to improve the quality of clinical care," said Margaret E. O'Kane, President of NCQA. "It shows they are building the kinds of partnerships that are critical to delivering great care and great service."
NCQA accreditation is a nationally recognized evaluation that purchasers, regulators and consumers can use to assess managed care plans. NCQA's team of physicians and managed care experts evaluated more than 60 standards and health care performance measures. An oversight committee of physicians analyzed the team's finding and assigned an accreditation level.
NCQA intentionally sets high accreditation standards to encourage health plans to continually enhance their quality. The standards are intended to promote high levels of performance, improved patient outcomes, and continuous improvement.
"HNE's goal is to provide our customers with thoughtful and responsive service," said Pat Scheer, HNE Quality Operations Manager. "NCQA provided an unbiased review of our plan. By awarding HNE the highest accreditation status, NCQA recognized our efforts to serve our members well."
Health New England is a managed care organization serving Western Massachusetts since 1985. Nearly 100,000 members and 5,000 employers choose HNE for health insurance plans, special services and programs, and our commitment to accountable, personal service.
HNE employs more than 200 associates at their main offices in Springfield and in Berkshire County in Pittsfield. HNE's service area covers Franklin, Berkshire, Hampden and Hampshire counties in Massachusetts; and Hartford, Litchfield and Tolland counties in Connecticut.
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