NCQA

The National Committee for Quality Assurance is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. Their mission is to improve health care quality through measurement, transparency and accountability.

Program Scope, Date First Certified, Dates of Current Cycle

ASH Networks and ASH Plans were the first complementary health care companies to receive NCQA Organization Certification in Utilization Management and Credentialing. This Certification process focuses on consumer protection and improvement in service to customers. Standards recognize that organizations that apply for certification have open-access networks, and can improve service quality and utilize customized structures to meet purchaser needs. First certified: October 2005. Current cycle: October 2007-2009.

ASH has not pursued NCQA accreditation as NCQA does not accredit specialty health plans. It should be noted that ASH programs are currently delegated to by more than 50 NCQA-accredited health plans for many of the services offered by ASH, including utilization management, provider quality management, claims processing, provider credentialing, and member services. ASH continues to align its operations to comply with NCQA standards to support good business practices and NCQA accredited customers.