American Specialty Health Group Receives Full URAC Accreditation for Clinical Integration

San Diego, Calif. (PRWEB) September 16, 2014

The URAC Accreditation Committee announced that it has granted American Specialty Health Group Inc. (formerly American Specialty Health Networks Inc.) full accreditation pursuant to Clinical Integration, Version 1.0. American Specialty Health Group Inc. (ASH Group) is one of only a handful of early adopter organizations to apply for this accreditation and one of only three to have currently earned full accreditation.

Clinical Integration Accreditation recognizes provider networks that offer education and guidance for health care providers to achieve interdependent operations, care coordination and clinical management that results in better cost controls, enhanced quality and improved outcomes through the application of evidence-based guidelines and best practices. Through its subsidiaries, including ASH Group, American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH) offers one of the nation's largest practitioner networks for chiropractic, acupuncture, physical therapy, massage therapy, speech therapy, nutrition services, naturopathy and other physical medicine, with more than 30,000 providers.

"Accreditation programs like this offer a roadmap for providers to navigate the complex changes required under the Affordable Care Act and succeed in a new environment focused on quality and accountability," said Kylanne Green, president and CEO of URAC. "We applaud ASH's commitment to its providers and to meeting national URAC standards."

"This was is an exceptional achievement that took more than two years of ongoing effort to complete," said ASH Chief Health Services Officer and Executive Vice President Douglas Metz, D.C. "Full accreditation further assures health plans, employer groups, members and providers that ASH remains committed to clinical integration, as well as to innovating and enhancing its infrastructure and processes to respond to the rapidly changing PPACA-influenced health care market. Our integrated systems are designed to enable access to affordable, evidence-based, high-quality health care."

About URAC
URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization, is a leader in promoting health care quality through accreditation and certification programs. URAC's standards keep pace with the rapid changes in the health care system, and provide a mark of distinction for health care organizations to demonstrate 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 setting meaningful standards for the health care industry. For more information, visit https://www.urac.org/.

About American Specialty Health
American Specialty Health Incorporated and its subsidiaries (ASH) are one of the nation's premier independent and privately-owned specialty health services organizations, providing specialty health care networks and programs, fitness and exercise programs and population health solutions for health plans, insurance carriers and employer groups. Through its subsidiaries, ASH contracts with more than 130 health plans nationally, administers programs for nearly 34 million members and contracts with more than 32,000 health care practitioners and service providers. According to patient surveys, 97 percent of patients reported that they were satisfied with the skill, competency and quality of services provided by ASH-contracted practitioners.

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