Deliver Your News to the World

NCQA, U.S. News & World Report to Collaborate on ’America’s Best Health Plans’; Rankings to be Based on Clinical Quality, Member Satisfaction, NCQA Accreditation; List to be Released on Oct. 3


WEBWIRE

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and U.S. News & World Report have collaborated to rank the nation’s health plans, the two organizations announced today. The rankings will be unveiled in an in-depth U.S. News feature which will appear on newsstands on Oct. 3, the same day NCQA releases its annual State of Health Care Quality report. Hundreds of commercial, Medicare and Medicaid health plans will be ranked, with detailed information about their performance in selected areas.

“This is an exciting expansion of the U.S. News ’America’s Best’ brand,” said Brian Duffy, editor of U.S. News & World Report. “Open enrollment is right around the corner and people need good, objective information to help them decide which health plan is right for them. We’re excited to be working with NCQA on this effort.”

The ranking will be based on clinical performance, member satisfaction and NCQA Accreditation. Visitors to the U.S. News Web site (http://www.usnews.com) will be able to “drill down” to view more detailed information about each plan’s performance in selected areas such as cancer screening and care for diabetes, heart disease and asthma. Users will also be able to view information about member satisfaction.

“Millions of people will now have another vehicle to use to select a health plan just at the time when they need it,” said NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane. “We look forward to working with U.S. News to identify the industry standouts and to shine a spotlight on health care quality.”

Reporting clinical performance data and member satisfaction are voluntary, as is NCQA’s Accreditation program. More than 500 health plans will be listed and ranked online. Health plans that have opted not to report data will be listed, but not ranked.

---

About NCQA:

NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. NCQA provides health care quality information free of charge through the Web and media in order to help consumers, employers and others make more informed health care choices.

About U.S. News & World Report:

Founded in 1933, the weekly national newsmagazine U.S. News & World Report is devoted to investigative journalism and reporting and to analyzing national and international affairs, politics, business, health, science, technology and social trends. Through its annual rankings of America’s Best College, America’s Best Graduate Schools and America’s Best Hospitals, and its News You Can Use brand, U.S. News has earned a reputation as the leading provider of service news and information that improves the quality of life of its readers. Available online at http://www.usnews.com , U.S. News, for the second time in a row, was named the most credible newsweekly by the Pew Biennial News Consumption Survey and the most credible news organization in print.



WebWireID4082





This news content was configured by WebWire editorial staff. Linking is permitted.

News Release Distribution and Press Release Distribution Services Provided by WebWire.