URAC Calls for Comments on Changes to Standards for Clinical and Health Information Technology Accreditation Programs By PR Newswire
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today URAC called for comments on minor revisions to its accreditation standards for clinical and health information technology programs. URAC is seeking input from any interested parties, including health care management organizations and health plans. The deadline for public comment is March 19, 2007.
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The minor proposed revisions affect aspects of Core Accreditation and many of its specific accreditation programs. The revisions developed annually from the accreditation process itself, using interpretation questions received from client companies over the course of the past year. URAC reviews standards annually and is scheduled to review standards for major revisions in 2008.
"These minor revisions are designed to clarify the intent of existing standards for client companies," said Douglas Metz, DC, chairman of URAC's Standards Committee and chief health services officer for American Specialty Health. "Our policy of continuously reviewing and revising standards is one way URAC can enhance the information we provide to client companies and continue to improve consistency and efficiency in the Core standards and in each of the accreditation program modules."
"Revising standards to fit today's environment requires both an understanding of best practice and the trends in an evolving market," said Alan P. Spielman, URAC's president and chief executive officer. "The Standards Committee includes representatives from many different stakeholder perspectives, who work diligently to ensure URAC sets appropriate quality standards in every program."
Suggested minor revisions include combining standards within a module to more closely resemble wording in other modules; eliminating redundancy; or moving standards from one section to another, more logical section. In some cases, the revisions are being made to the interpretive information that supports the standards and not the standards themselves. The products that will be available for comment will include:
-- Case Management, Version 3.0 -- Core, Version 2.0 -- Definitions -- Health Network, Version 5.0 -- Health Plan, Version 5.0 -- Health Utilization Management, Version 5.0 -- Workers Compensation Utilization Management, Version 4.0 -- Health Web Site, Version 2.0 -- HIPAA Privacy, Version 1.0 -- Independent Review Organization, Version 3.0
The standards are available for review at http://www.urac.org. URAC strongly prefers to receive comments through the online comment form available at . Alternately, comments may be submitted by email (comments@urac.org); by mail (URAC, Attn: Public Comments, 1220 L Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20005); or may be faxed to (202) 216-9006. Please note that submissions received through a method other than the online comment form should include the following information: 1) the product name; 2) the standard abbreviation and number; 3) comment classification (standard or weight); and 4) comment.
All comments submitted by the deadline will be reviewed and considered prior to final changes to the standards. Revisions will be submitted to URAC's Board of Directors for final approval at the end of April, 2007, and revisions will be implemented later in the year.
About URAC
URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization, is well-known as a leader in promoting health care quality through its accreditation and certification programs. URAC offers a wide range of quality benchmarking programs and services that keep pace with the rapid changes in the health care system, and provide a symbol of excellence for organizations to validate 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 establishing meaningful quality measures for the entire health care industry. For more information, visit http://www.urac.org
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