# NCQA * **Definition:** National Committee for Quality Assurance, a private, nonprofit organization that evaluates and accredits healthcare organizations and health plans based on quality standards and performance metrics, with a commitment to improving healthcare quality and health equity. * **Taxonomy:** Healthcare Topics / NCQA ## News * Selected news on the topic of **NCQA**, for healthcare technology leaders * 786 news items are in the system for this topic * Posts have been filtered for tech and healthcare-related keywords | Date | Title | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | 5/28/2025 | [**CareNu Earns NCQA CVO Re-Certification: Reinforcing Industry Leadership in Quality Healthcare**](https://www.prweb.com/releases/carenu-earns-ncqa-cvo-re-certification-reinforcing-industry-leadership-in-quality-healthcare-302465911.html) | [[PRWeb]] | | 5/28/2025 | [**CareNu Earns NCQA CVO Re-Certification: Reinforcing Industry Leadership in Quality Healthcare**](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/carenu-earns-ncqa-cvo-certification-130000570.html) | [[Yahoo Finance]] | | 5/14/2025 | [**TeleSpecialists Achieves Perfect NCQA Reaccreditation Score, Setting New Standard in Telemedicine Excellence**](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/telespecialists-achieves-perfect-ncqa-reaccreditation-141500843.html) | [[Yahoo Finance]] | | 5/14/2025 | [**TeleSpecialists Achieves Perfect NCQA Reaccreditation Score, Setting New Standard in ...**](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/telespecialists-achieves-perfect-ncqa-reaccreditation-score-setting-new-standard-in-telemedicine-excellence-302453985.html) | [[PR Newswire]] | | 4/30/2025 | [**Ontrak Achieves NCQA Recertification as a Credentialing Verification Organization**](https://www.morningstar.com/news/business-wire/20250430643122/ontrak-achieves-ncqa-recertification-as-a-credentialing-verification-organization) | [[Morningstar]] | | 4/30/2025 | [**Ontrak Achieves NCQA Recertification as a Credentialing Verification Organization**](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ontrak-achieves-ncqa-recertification-credentialing-120000863.html) | [[Yahoo Finance]] | | 4/29/2025 | [**Clearsense Earns NCQA's Validated Data Stream Status for Second Consecutive Year**](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/clearsense-earns-ncqas-validated-data-stream-status-for-second-consecutive-year-302441162.html) | [[PR Newswire]] | | 4/28/2025 | [**Clearsense Earns NCQA's Validated Data Stream Status for Second Consecutive Year**](https://www.morningstar.com/news/pr-newswire/20250429ne75487/clearsense-earns-ncqas-validated-data-stream-status-for-second-consecutive-year) | [[Morningstar]] | | 4/21/2025 | [**NCQA's Eric Musser on the Future of Digital Quality Measurement**](https://www.hcinnovationgroup.com/policy-value-based-care/value-based-care-quality-measurement/article/55284501/ncqas-eric-musser-on-the-future-of-digital-quality-measurement) | [[Healthcare Innovation]] | | 4/9/2025 | [**NCQA Issues Health Care Recommendations for the Trump Administration - Yahoo Finance**](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ncqa-issues-health-care-recommendations-131500052.html) | [[Yahoo Finance]] | | 4/9/2025 | [**NCQA Urges Expedited Adoption of Digital Quality Measures**](https://www.hcinnovationgroup.com/policy-value-based-care/value-based-care-quality-measurement/news/55281068/ncqa-urges-expedited-adoption-of-digital-quality-measures) | [[Healthcare Innovation]] | | 3/13/2025 | [**Santa Clara Family Health Plan earns Full NCQA Accreditation for its Medi-Cal and ...**](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/santa-clara-family-health-plan-earns-full-ncqa-accreditation-for-its-medi-cal-and-medicare-programs-302401337.html) | [[PR Newswire]] | | 2/6/2025 | [**Human Affairs International of California Earns Full Accreditation from the National ... - Morningstar**](https://www.morningstar.com/news/pr-newswire/20250206cg12878/human-affairs-international-of-california-earns-full-accreditation-from-the-national-committee-for-quality-assurance) | [[Morningstar]] | | 2/6/2025 | [**Human Affairs International of California Earns Full Accreditation from the National ... - PR Newswire**](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/human-affairs-international-of-california-earns-full-accreditation-from-the-national-committee-for-quality-assurance-302369490.html) | [[PR Newswire]] | | 1/31/2025 | [**FHIR, Quality Measurement and Value-Based Care: What NCQA's Ed Yurcisin Wants CIOs to Know**](https://www.healthcareittoday.com/2025/01/31/fhir-quality-measurement-and-value-based-care-what-ncqas-ed-yurcisin-wants-cios-to-know/) | [[Healthcare IT Today]] | | 1/22/2025 | [**HealthEdge® Achieves NCQA HEDIS® Allowable Adjustment Certification, Setting New Standard for Quality in Health Plan Care Management**](http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250122119649/en/HealthEdge%C2%AE-Achieves-NCQA-HEDIS%C2%AE-Allowable-Adjustment-Certification-Setting-New-Standard-for-Quality-in-Health-Plan-Care-Management/?feedref=JjAwJuNHiystnCoBq_hl-RLXHJgazfQJNuOVHefdHP-D8R-QU5o2AvY8bhI9uvWSD8DYIYv4TIC1g1u0AKcacnnViVjtb72bOP4-4nHK5ieT3WxPE8m_kWI77F87CseT) | [[Business Wire]] | | 1/9/2025 | [**NCQA Announces Two New Members to Board of Directors - Yahoo Finance**](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ncqa-announces-two-members-board-180000572.html) | [[Yahoo Finance]] | | 12/12/2024 | [**Maven Clinic Becomes First in Women's and Family Health to Earn NCQA Health Equity ...**](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/maven-clinic-becomes-first-in-womens-and-family-health-to-earn-ncqa-health-equity-accreditation-302329857.html) | [[PR Newswire]] | | 12/10/2024 | [**Interwell Health Earns 3-Year NCQA Population Health Program Accreditation for its Value ...**](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/interwell-health-earns-3-year-ncqa-population-health-program-accreditation-for-its-value-based-kidney-care-program-302326705.html) | [[PR Newswire]] | | 12/10/2024 | [**Interwell Health Earns 3-Year NCQA Population Health Program Accreditation for its Value-Based Kidney Care Program**](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/interwell-health-earns-3-ncqa-140000482.html) | [[Yahoo Finance]] | | 11/14/2024 | [**PMG Credentialing, Inc. Receives NCQA Accreditation in Credentialing/Recredentialing**](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pmg-credentialing-inc-receives-ncqa-accreditation-in-credentialingrecredentialing-302306041.html) | [[PR Newswire]] | | 10/3/2024 | [**Prime Therapeutics LLC earns certification from the National Committee for Quality Assurance**](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/prime-therapeutics-llc-earns-certification-from-the-national-committee-for-quality-assurance-302265343.html) | [[PR Newswire]] | | 10/1/2024 | [**Blue Plus Named First HMO in Minnesota to Receive NCQA Health Equity Plus Accreditation**](https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/blue-plus-named-first-hmo-in-minnesota-to-receive-ncqa-health-equity-plus-accreditation-1033812431) | [[Business Insider Markets]] | | 9/17/2024 | [**NCQA Unveils 2024 Health Plan Ratings - Big News Network.com**](https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/274603651/ncqa-unveils-2024-health-plan-ratings) | bignewsnetwork.com | | 6/19/2024 | [**COPE Health Solutions Earns Certified Data Partner Designation in NCQA Data Aggregator Validation Program**](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cope-health-solutions-earns-certified-120000087.html) | [[Yahoo Finance]] | ## Topic Overview (Some LLM-derived content — please confirm with above primary sources) ### Key Players - **NCQA**: The National Committee for Quality Assurance, an independent organization that assesses healthcare quality and grants accreditation to organizations demonstrating strong performance in population health management. - **CDPHP**: A health plan recognized for high-quality ratings by NCQA. - **COPE Health Solutions**: A healthcare consulting firm that has achieved NCQA's Certified Data Partner designation, enhancing its credibility in data quality. - **UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Kansas**: A health plan recognized by NCQA for its commitment to health equity and quality care. - **Sharecare**: A health tech company recognized for its commitment to improving care quality and outcomes, holding multiple NCQA accreditations. - **ThoroughCare**: A digital care coordination platform that has received NCQA accreditation, focusing on managing medical, behavioral, and social elements of care delivery. - **MHK**: A company that achieved NCQA HEDIS Software Certification, enhancing population health management. - **Interwell Health**: A healthcare organization awarded NCQA Population Health Program Accreditation for its comprehensive care management for chronic kidney disease patients. - **Santa Clara Family Health Plan**: A healthcare organization that achieved Full Accreditation from NCQA for its Medicaid and Medicare programs, demonstrating its commitment to high-quality care. - **UnitedHealthcare**: A major health insurance provider that has received Health Equity Accreditation from NCQA for its commitment to equitable healthcare. - **HealthEdge**: A company that provides integrated healthcare solutions and has achieved multiple NCQA certifications for quality measurement. - **Strive Health**: A company focused on kidney disease management that has achieved NCQA accreditation for its case management and population health programs. - **Centivo**: A health plan provider that launched a virtual primary care practice and achieved NCQA accreditation for its patient-centered medical home. - **Blue Plus**: The first health plan in Minnesota to receive NCQA's Health Equity Accreditation Plus. - **DataLink**: A provider of data-driven healthcare solutions that has achieved NCQA HEDIS certification for six consecutive years, utilizing clinical quality language (CQL) and structured query language (SQL). ### Partnerships and Collaborations - **CaryHealth and NCQA**: CaryHealth is sponsoring the NCQA conference to showcase its AI-powered solutions for healthcare improvement. - **Sharecare and CDC**: Developed a diabetes prevention program adhering to NCQA guidelines. - **Koan Health and Nebraska Health Network**: Collaboration to enhance clinical data transmission to payers, improving healthcare quality and supporting value-based care. - **Collaboration with CMS**: NCQA extended the HEDIS MY 2023 submission deadline in collaboration with CMS due to a cyberattack, allowing additional time for accurate reporting. - **Verbal and Healthie**: Integrated to enhance healthcare compliance and patient experience through automated clinical documentation. - **Counterpart Health and The Iowa Clinic**: A multi-year agreement to utilize AI-powered physician enablement platforms to improve care for Medicare Advantage patients. - **Clover Health Investments and The Iowa Clinic**: A multi-year agreement for managing Medicare Advantage patients using Counterpart Assistant, a cloud-based software platform. - **UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Rhode Island**: Awarded a contract to provide Medicaid services until 2030, continuing its long-standing service since 1993. - **Point32Health and Good Measures**: Collaborated to provide food prescriptions and nutrition coaching for members at risk of diet-related diseases. - **Vital Data Technology and Mid-State Health Network**: Partnered to implement predictive data models aimed at enhancing healthcare quality for Michigan residents. - **UnitedHealthcare**: Invested over $1.5 million in Kansas, including $500,000 to nonprofits addressing social determinants of health. - **Independence Blue Cross and Isaac Health**: Partnered to enhance brain health support for members, recognizing the importance of cognitive well-being. - **Strive Health and Zing Health**: Expanded their partnership to provide specialized kidney care to eligible members in multiple states, integrating nephrology care with tailored Medicare Advantage benefits. - **CitiusTech**: Collaborated with customers to develop Generative AI capabilities for its HEDIS solution. - **ThoroughCare and Empactful Capital**: ThoroughCare closed a $5 million Series A funding round led by Empactful Capital to enhance product development and market expansion. - **Firefly Health**: Expanded its network to provide integrated access to in-person care across the U.S. ### Innovations, Trends, and Initiatives - **NCQA Recommendations**: NCQA has released recommendations to transform the U.S. quality measurement ecosystem, emphasizing digital health infrastructure, value-based care, and addressing behavioral health crises. - **Virtual Care Accreditation**: A new NCQA program aimed at evaluating organizations providing virtual care services, enhancing patient care quality. - **Health Equity Accreditation**: NCQA's initiative recognizing organizations like CareNu and SCFHP for their efforts in reducing healthcare disparities. - **Health Equity Focus**: NCQA is enhancing its initiatives to measure and improve health equity, particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. - **NCQA Health Innovation Award**: Recognizes organizations implementing innovative initiatives to enhance quality and value in healthcare delivery. - **2024 Health Plan Ratings**: NCQA's annual evaluation of health plans based on patient experience and clinical quality, emphasizing health equity. - **Data Aggregator Validation**: NCQA provides a nationally recognized standard for validating an organization's ability to collect and standardize healthcare data for quality measurement, impacting over 72% of the U.S. population. - **New NCQA Standards for 2025**: Emphasize robust reporting and analytics in healthcare credentialing, urging organizations to adopt comprehensive self-serve reporting solutions. - **Health Innovation Summit**: NCQA's summit connects industry leaders to improve healthcare quality through data solutions, focusing on value-based care and health equity. - **Certified Data Partner Program**: NCQA's Data Aggregator Validation program certifies organizations like COPE Health Solutions and Arcadia for their data quality and accuracy in healthcare settings. - **Data Quality Initiatives**: NCQA emphasizes the importance of high-quality data for HEDIS measures, supporting broader applications in public health. - **Quality Intelligence by Cotiviti**: Recognized as the 2024 Best in KLAS solution for Payer Quality Measurement, supporting health plans in digital quality measurement. - **New HEDIS Measures**: Starting next year, NCQA will introduce new measures focused on follow-up care for hypertension and breast cancer assessments, enhancing the quality of care. - **Health Equity Initiatives**: NCQA has updated its HEDIS measures to be more inclusive, accounting for sociodemographic factors affecting health outcomes. - **HEDIS Updates**: NCQA has updated its HEDIS measures to be more inclusive, accounting for sociodemographic factors affecting health outcomes. - **Digital Transformation**: The digitization of HEDIS measures into Clinical Quality Language (CQL) is transforming healthcare data management. ### Challenges and Concerns - **Credentialing Standards**: Updated NCQA standards require healthcare organizations to enhance reporting on audit logs and credentialing information integrity. - **Behavioral Health Crisis**: NCQA calls for national standards for behavioral health and increased funding for quality improvement to address ongoing challenges in this area. - **Digital Health Infrastructure**: NCQA emphasizes the need for a robust digital health infrastructure to enhance data exchange and promote the use of digital quality measures, highlighting concerns about the pace of implementation. - **Adena Health's Credentialing Denial**: NCQA denied accreditation for medical credentialing, indicating non-compliance with standards, which raises concerns about quality assurance. - **Health Disparities**: NCQA emphasizes the need for collecting race and ethnicity data to identify and tackle health disparities, particularly highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. - **Cybersecurity Threats**: The recent Change Healthcare cyberattack prompted NCQA to extend deadlines for HEDIS submissions, highlighting vulnerabilities in healthcare data security. - **Healthcare Disparities**: Ongoing challenges in addressing racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare, highlighted by NCQA President Margaret E. O'Kane. - **Imposter Syndrome in Leadership**: Discussions at NCQA events highlight the challenges women face in leadership roles, emphasizing the importance of trust and community in building a culture of quality. - **Interoperability Issues**: Despite advancements, inconsistent implementation of interoperability standards remains a challenge in the healthcare industry. - **Healthcare Cost Increases**: Projected significant growth in healthcare costs, emphasizing the need for advanced primary care solutions. - **Health Equity Gaps**: Despite advancements, there are ongoing challenges in achieving true health equity across healthcare systems. - **Data Collection Challenges**: Collecting race and ethnicity data for health equity measures presents ongoing challenges. - **Healthcare Staff Burnout**: Administrative burdens continue to contribute to healthcare staff burnout, necessitating solutions that streamline workflows. - **Telehealth Preparedness**: A study indicating that 63% of healthcare providers are not adequately prepared to implement telehealth services effectively.