Press Release
Neighborhood Health Plan Earns NCQA Distinction as One of the Highest-rated Health Insurance Plans in the Nation
Plan ranked #3 in Medicaid Nationally, Second-highest in Massachusetts
Boston, MA - October 22, 2010 - Based on criteria that measures clinical quality and member satisfaction among more than 100 of the nation's Medicaid health insurance plans, Neighborhood Health Plan (NHP) ranks #3 in Medicaid in America, and second-highest in the state of Massachusetts, according to a ranking by the National Committee for Quality Assurance(NCQA). This is the third year in a row that NHP has earned this “Honor Roll” distinction of being ranked one of the top five health plans in the country. The rankings, released today by NCQA, can be found at www.ncqa.org/rankings and at www.consumerreports.org.
"We are very proud of this ranking for the hard work and dedication it represents," said Deborah C. Enos, President and CEO of NHP. "Neighborhood Health Plan, as a Safety Net health plan, partners with the State to ensure that high quality health care is delivered to more than 140,000 Medicaid recipients across the entire state of Massachusetts. It is especially rewarding to achieve this ranking, as the Medicaid portion of our membership makes up the majority of our total membership."
NHP achieved its ranking by performing at the highest levels in a wide variety of fields, including access to care, preventive care, and treatment of diseases such as diabetes and asthma. Surveys queried members on their satisfaction to calculate an overall quality score. The final list of NCQA Health Insurance Plan Rankings 2010-11 -- Medicaid was calculated from independently audited data submitted by the health plan.
"We are very pleased that Neighborhood Health Plan's focus on meeting, and exceeding, quality of care standards for members through our quality programs has been recognized by this year’s NCQA ranking," said Paul Mendis, MD, Chief Medical Officer, of NHP. "We are fortunate to have the commitment and collaboration of our community health center partners and larger provider network who continuously work with us to improve services for the health of our members."
The NCQA accreditation survey process includes results from consumer surveys conducted through the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) measures as well as on-site and off-site evaluations of more than 60 standards and selected Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) performance measures. A committee of physicians and health plan administrators determine accreditation scores based on the performance of the plan according to NCQA standards.
Neighborhood Health Plan is a not-for-profit health insurer serving more than 210,000 members across Massachusetts, offering a wide array of government-funded and commercial products. NHP provides health care programs and related services to individuals receiving benefits under Medicaid, through small business employer groups, and through Massachusetts' groundbreaking health care reform. Founded in 1986 by the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and the Greater Boston Forum for Health Action, NHP focuses on offering members access to care from over 2,800 primary care physicians and over 10,400 specialists in over 300 primary care locations throughout Massachusetts. NHP is recognized as a national leader in care for medically complex and severely disabled populations. Central to Neighborhood Health Plan's mission, the organization places special emphasis on serving culturally diverse, traditionally underserved, and vulnerable populations.
About the National Committee for Quality Assurance
Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2010, NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA's Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA is committed to providing health care quality information for consumers, purchasers, health care providers, and researchers.
HEDIS is a registered trademark of NCQA.
Media Contact
Rhian Gregory - Neighborhood Health Plan - 617-620-0517