SANTA ANA, Calif., June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- PacifiCare Behavioral Health's Southwest and Western Region service centers have been awarded Health Utilization Management Accreditation from URAC, a Washington, DC-based health care accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the health care industry.
"PacifiCare Behavioral Health is honored to receive Health Utilization Management accreditation from URAC," said Jerry Vaccaro, M.D., president and CEO of PacifiCare Behavioral Health. "We are very pleased to be recognized in the industry for providing outstanding services. Such a distinction also underscores the quality of our work with customers, patients, clients, payers, and providers by demonstrating compliance with national standards for utilization management."
"By applying for and receiving URAC's Health Utilization Management Accreditation, PacifiCare Behavioral Health has demonstrated a commitment to quality health care," said Gary Carneal, URAC president and CEO. "Quality health care is crucial to our nation's welfare and it is important to have organizations that are willing to measure themselves against national standards."
URAC's Health Utilization Management standards establish consistency in utilization management processes. The standards ensure that appropriately trained clinical personnel conduct and oversee the utilization review process, that a reasonable and timely appeals process is in place, and that medical decisions are based on valid clinical criteria.
In addition to awarding PBH this accreditation, URAC has appointed PBH's Director of Quality Improvement Christy Beaudin, PhD, LCSW, CPHQ, to its URAC Health Standards Committee. The Health Standards Committee advises and assists URAC staff in maintaining and revising URAC's clinical accreditation standards, including how to appropriately define quality standards for each type of health care organization URAC accredits. During the standards development and revision process, URAC releases draft standards to the public so that all interested parties may have an opportunity to comment.
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/.
About PacifiCare Behavioral Health
PacifiCare Behavioral Health, Inc. provides mental health, chemical dependency, and employee assistance services to covered members and maintains a national network of behavioral health care practitioners. All PacifiCare Behavioral Health service centers hold three-year, Full Accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as well as URAC Health Utilization Management Accreditation. PacifiCare Behavioral Health is a wholly owned subsidiary of PacifiCare Health Systems , with clients including health plans, union trust funds, employers, school districts, and public sector agencies. More information on PacifiCare Behavioral Health can be obtained at http://www.pbhi.com/.
About PacifiCare Health Systems
PacifiCare Health Systems is one of the nation's largest consumer health organizations with more than 3 million health plan members and approximately 9 million specialty plan members nationwide. PacifiCare offers individuals, employers and Medicare beneficiaries a variety of consumer-driven health care and life insurance products. Currently, more than 99 percent of PacifiCare's commercial health plan members are enrolled in plans that have received Excellent Accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). PacifiCare's specialty operations include behavioral health, dental and vision, and complete pharmacy and medical management through its wholly owned subsidiary, Prescription Solutions. More information on PacifiCare Health Systems is available at http://www.pacificare.com/.
PacifiCare Behavioral Health, Inc.CONTACT: Dagmar King of PacifiCare Behavioral Health, Inc.,+1-714-445-0453, dagmar.king@phs.com; or Dan Miller of PacifiCare HealthSystems, +1-714-226-3726, tyler.mason@phs.com
