AmeriHealth Mercy Health Plan Receives URAC Accreditation for Disease Management
Philadelphia (PA) – AmeriHealth Mercy Health Plan recently received Disease Management Accreditation for its PerforMEDSM care management program from URAC, a Washington, DC-based health care accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the health care industry. AmeriHealth Mercy Health Plan, a member of the AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies, is a Medical Assistance managed care plan serving members in central and northeastern Pennsylvania.
The URAC Disease Management Accreditation promotes quality and accountability in the management of chronic diseases for health plan members. The accreditation standards support evidence-based practice, collaborative relationships with providers, consumer education and shared-decision making.
"I am proud that AmeriHealth Mercy has been recognized by URAC for our disease management program," said Jay Feldstein, DO, Corporate Chief Medical Officer for the AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies. "This national recognition provides evidence that we are accomplishing our mission to improve access to high quality care for our members."
AmeriHealth Mercy's disease management program provides education and support for members dealing with conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and heart failure. High-risk members are assigned a case manager who coordinates their care along with their provider, and works with them to set and achieve personal goals to improve their overall health and quality of life.
"We strive to improve the health and well-being of our most chronically ill members by approaching their care holistically and seeking to actively engage members and their providers in the process," said Sherry Knowlton, Senior Vice President and General Manager, AmeriHealth Mercy Health Plan. "We are pleased that URAC has recognized us for these efforts."
URAC's Disease Management Accreditation standards ensure that accredited organizations use a standardized process to assess the health conditions of each member and take into account cases where more than one chronic health condition may be present. The plan must then implement interventions designed to respond to the specific health needs of the member. Organizations must also employ evidence-based decision-support tools in their assessment process, and provide for members to have telephonic access to disease management staff for assistance.
"By applying for and receiving URAC Disease Management Accreditation, AmeriHealth Mercy Health Plan has demonstrated a commitment to quality health care," said Alan P. Spielman, URAC president and CEO. "Quality health care is crucial to our nation’s welfare and it is important to have organizations that are willing to measure themselves against national standards and undergo rigorous evaluation by an independent accrediting body."
AmeriHealth Mercy Health Plan, a member of the AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies, is a Medical Assistance (Medicaid) managed care health plan serving more than 100,000 Medical Assistance recipients in 15 counties of central and northeastern Pennsylvania. Headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, AmeriHealth Mercy Health Plan is a mission-driven company dedicated to helping members get care, stay well, and build healthy communities. Its corporate parent partners are Mercy Health System and AmeriHealth First. For more information, go to www.amerihealthmercyhp.com.
URAC is an independent, nonprofit organization that is a leader in promoting health care quality through accreditation and certification programs. URAC's standards keep pace with the rapid changes in the health care system, and provide a mark of distinction for health care organizations to demonstrate their commitment to quality and accountability. Through its broad-based governance structure and an inclusive standards development process, URAC ensures that all stakeholders are represented in setting meaningful standards for the health care industry. For more information, visit www.urac.org. |
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