News
American Specialty Health Adds Health Web Site to List of URAC Accreditations
SAN DIEGO, CA (December 12, 2001) -- American Specialty Health, Inc. announced today that it has been awarded Health Web Site Accreditation by URAC. URAC's Health Web Site Accreditation program is the first of its kind, and promotes quality and accountability in online health information and services. American Specialty Health is among the first to achieve this important distinction.
"As one of the first health Web sites to earn URAC accreditation, American Specialty Health has displayed its leadership through a commitment to quality and accountability," said Garry Carneal, URAC President and CEO. "Such a commitment is critical to the future growth of e-health as an integral part of our nation's health care system."
The accreditation applies to the Healthyroads Web site. Healthyroads, an affiliate of American Specialty Health, is an e-commerce and Internet resource site that includes health and wellness products, educational resources and a national complementary health care provider directory.
"Consumers have made it very clear that they are concerned about privacy, security, and Web site information they can trust. Meeting the rigorous requirements for quality, accountability, privacy, and security within URAC's Health Web Site Accreditation Program Standards is an effective manner to respond to consumers' needs," said George DeVries, President and CEO of American Specialty Health, Inc. and Healthyroads, Inc. "The URAC seal on a Web site will empower consumers to obtain important health care information from health care Web sites that have made this commitment to them."
The URAC Health Web Site Accreditation Program Standards were released on July 30, 2001 and address various aspects of health Web site operations, including:
- Health content editorial process
- Disclosure of financial relationships
- Linking to other Web sites
- Privacy and security
- Consumer complaint mechanisms
The standards were developed through a broad-based committee process, and are based in part on the 14 Hi-Ethics Principles. Hi-Ethics principles set high standards for consumer protection, including privacy, security, quality of information, fairness of transactions and professional conduct. The standards are designed to ensure that a Web site implements appropriate processes to protect consumer interests and provides quality information and services.
URAC is a leader in the accreditation of health and managed care organizations. Founded in 1990, URAC currently offers 13 accreditation programs that span a broad spectrum of health care services. URAC has issued over 2,000 accreditation certificates to more than 500 health care programs. URAC-accredited organizations do business in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Canada and provide services to more than 120 million Americans.
American Specialty Health and its affiliates provide benefit plans, network access, and affinity discount programs nationwide to health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups and trust funds. Its comprehensive services include quality management, member and provider services, claims, utilization management, and credentialing. Its affiliate American Specialty Health Plans® of California, Inc. is the nation's first and largest health plan for chiropractic and acupuncture services, operating in California. American Specialty Health has also been awarded full URAC accreditation for the quality of its health care operations. Its affiliate, American Specialty Health Networks, Inc. (ASHN), has received accreditation for its chiropractic and acupuncture networks in each of the following five URAC programs: Health Utilization Management, Health Plan Health Network with Credentialing, Workers' Compensation Utilization Management, and Workers' Compensation Network. In addition, ASHN’s massage therapy, dietetics and naturopathy programs recently earned URAC accreditation in the areas of Health Utilization Management, Health Plan and Health Network with Credentialing. Based in San Diego, American Specialty Health has over 500 employees and covers more than 60 million members nationwide.