URAC is nationally recognized as the leading entity for accrediting specialty health plans. By applying for and receiving URAC accreditation, American Specialty Health Plans of California, Inc. (ASH Plans), American Specialty Health Group, Inc. (ASH Group), and American Specialty Health Digital, Inc. (ASHD) have demonstrated the commitment to be measured by nationally accepted health care benchmarks. This accreditation assures health plans, employer groups, members, and providers that ASH maintains the infrastructure and processes necessary to promote high-quality health care.
The URAC health program accreditations received by ASH include a comprehensive review of organizational structure, administrative services, network management, quality management, utilization management, provider services, provider credentialing, member participation, consumer protection and empowerment, disease management, coaching/member education, telehealth (including systems integrity and reliability, and coordination of care), and regulatory compliance. Although URAC also offers a certification process available to organizations that opt for a less comprehensive evaluation, ASH has opted to pursue full accreditation rather than the certification process.
Program Scope, Dates First Accredited, Dates of Current Cycle
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The URAC Disease Management standards promote quality and provide tools to better assess and respond to the needs of members. Standards promote evidence-based practice, collaborative relationships with providers, consumer education, and shared decision making with consumers.
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The Health Network Accreditation of ASH focuses on best practices for network management, credentialing, risk management, operations and infrastructure, performance monitoring and improvement, healthcare quality, and consumer protection and empowerment.
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Health Utilization Management Accreditation of ASH assures the clinical and operational soundness of the utilization management process, evaluating the program against nationally recognized standards. UM standards ensure accessibility, quality, and timeliness of care.
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The Telehealth Accreditation of ASH focuses on the telehealth standards for the Consumer-to-Provider module, covering services initiated by a patient and can take place in the home or other non-clinical setting. They address best practices in areas such as healthcare quality and coordination, access, safety, systems integrity and reliability, consumer protection and empowerment, and regulatory compliance.
