DENVER, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fourth year running, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Colorado (Anthem) earned an Excellent accreditation rating -- the highest level awarded -- from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for its health maintenance organization (HMO) and point-of- service (POS) plans in Colorado.
NCQA is the nation’s most respected, independent, managed care accrediting organization. The Excellent accreditation is reserved for managed care organizations whose products demonstrate that they meet or exceed NCQA’s rigorous requirements for consumer protection and quality programs, which improve the health of plan members. “NCQA’s Excellent Accreditation status is reserved for the best health plans in the nation. It is a sign that they are delivering great service and their networks provide great care. These plans have met the toughest test in managed care,” said Margaret E. O’Kane, president of NCQA.
“Earning top recognition from NCQA, coupled with our outstanding performance on Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS(R)) measures, is the result of unwavering collaboration with our physicians and hospitals to positively impact the quality, accessibility and affordability of health care in our communities,” said Mike Ramseier, Anthem’s vice president of Health Care Management.
HEDIS(R) Effectiveness of Care measures track health plan performance on key public health concerns such as cancer, heart disease, smoking, asthma and diabetes. Of the ten HEDIS measures, Anthem’s 2005 scores increased in seven of the twelve areas measured and scored among the top 10 percent of the nation’s health plans in eight of the 12 measures.
In the Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Survey (CAHPS), the member satisfaction portion of the NCQA rating process, Anthem improved in seven of the twelve areas measured and scored among the top 10 percent of the nation’s health plans in eight of the 12 measures.
Anthem is committed to improving the quality of care delivered to our members and the health of our communities. This commitment is reflected in our industry-leading collaborations with physicians and hospitals, innovative pharmacy programs, community health initiatives, and award-winning and care management programs.
About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Colorado
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s mission is to improve the lives of the people it serves and the health of its communities. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Colorado is a subsidiary of WellPoint, Inc. . WellPoint, Inc. is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and serves its members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), Wisconsin; and through HealthLink and UniCare. Additional information about WellPoint is available at http://www.wellpoint.com .
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
CONTACT: Sally Vogler of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield,+1-303-831-5899 or +1-720-373-4836
