Designation Highlights OptumHealth’s
Ongoing Commitment to Providing Members Access to High-Quality Care
OptumHealth
Inc. announced today that its United Behavioral Health (UBH)
Portland, Oregon Care Advocate Center (CAC) has been awarded three-year,
Full Managed Behavioral Healthcare Organization (MBHO) accreditation
from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), an
independent, non-profit organization that assesses and reports on the
quality of the nation’s managed care plans.
The accreditation is based on a voluntary review of how a health plan
ensures that its members receive high-quality care.
“This level of accreditation for UBH Portland
signals that it’s an organization working hard
to coordinate care, ensure access and provide good customer support for
its members,” said Margaret E. O’Kane,
NCQA president. “It’s
a sign that OptumHealth is focused on improving the behavioral health of
its members.”
NCQA reviews include rigorous on- and off-site evaluations conducted by
a team of physicians and managed care experts. A national oversight
committee of physicians and behavioral health providers analyzes the team’s
findings and assigns an accreditation level based on the MBHO’s
performance compared to NCQA standards. OptumHealth’s
UBH Portland CAC received the highest possible rating awarded by NCQA.
OptumHealth’s UBH Portland CAC was evaluated
for quality in seven categories, including: Quality Management and
Improvement, Utilization Management, Credentialing and Recredentialing,
Members’ Rights and Responsibilities, and
Preventive Behavioral Health Care Services. The evaluation indicated
that UBH Portland provided superior service in all categories.
“OptumHealth’s
ongoing goal is to make health care more accessible, affordable and
effective for people,” said Gregory A. Bayer,
Ph.D., chief executive officer for OptumHealth Behavioral Solutions. “NCQA’s
accreditation is one more indication that we are achieving that goal.”
Care Advocate Centers are staffed by Care Advocates —
trained professionals who help members identify and maximize their
health care benefits. UBH holds three-year, Full NCQA MBHO accreditation
in its Chicago, Atlanta, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Houston, San Diego and
Portland Care Advocate Centers.
“OptumHealth’s
Care Advocates provide excellent customer service and do a great job of
helping our members get the care they need to get and stay healthy,”
said Jack A.
