SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Care Network of Michigan has received Full Patient and Practitioner Oriented Accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance for its disease management programs that help members with asthma, diabetes, congestive heart failure and cardiovascular disease.
“NCQA disease management accreditation demonstrates that an organization is well-suited to deliver programs to manage care for the seriously or chronically ill,” said NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane. “And it’s a difficult test -- it says a lot that an organization is willing to step forward to be reviewed.”
In 2002, BCN was the first commercial HMO in Michigan and the nation to receive NCQA accreditation for disease management programs. At that time, NCQA accredited BCN’s asthma, diabetes and congestive heart failure programs. BCN’s cardiovascular disease program is newly accredited this year.
“It’s gratifying to have NCQA affirm once again what we’re doing in our disease management programs,” said Kevin Seitz, Blue Care Network president and CEO. “Given the standards of quality we set for ourselves and the standards for NCQA accreditation, our customers and members can feel very good about the level of care they receive on a daily basis through these programs.”
Disease management has grown considerably during the past several years, and with that growth has come varying degrees of quality. A nationally recognized accreditation process ensures quality throughout the discipline.
BCN’s comprehensive disease management programs are built on a partnership among members, physicians and other medical providers. Identified members receive educational materials and tools to help them live with chronic illnesses. BCN nurses also work closely with members to help them understand their disease and treatment plan, get needed checkups and tests, and encourage them to work with their primary care physician. During its site review, NCQA also noted BCN’s well-written member educational materials, and ability to analyze data, as BCN strengths.
“We’re striving to be the best,” said Janie Flemming, Blue Care Network vice president for Health and Medical Affairs. “So we invite the scrutiny from NCQA because it’s a good check on our philosophy, our goals and our processes. Obviously, we’re very pleased when NCQA tells us we’re getting it right.”
NCQA is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to assessing and reporting on the quality of managed care plans, managed behavioral health care organizations, preferred provider organizations, new health plans, physician organizations, credentials verification organizations, disease management programs and other health-related programs. For further information, visit http://www.ncqa.org .
Blue Care Network of Michigan has more than 462,000 members, award-winning disease management programs and the largest HMO network of physicians and hospitals in the state, with more than 3,100 primary care physicians, 7,600 specialists and 110 hospitals. Blue Care Network is the HMO affiliate of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For further information, visit http://www.MiBCN.com .
Blue Care Network of Michigan
CONTACT: Helen Stojic, +1-313-225-8113, or Matt Haran, +1-313-225-8606, ormediarelations@bcbsm.com , both of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
