BCBS gets full URAC accreditation

June 14--Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota has received full URAC accreditation for Health Plan and Health Plan for Health Insurance Exchange.

"By applying for and receiving URAC accreditation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota has demonstrated a commitment to quality health care," said Kylanne Green, URAC president and CEO. "Quality health care is crucial to our nation's welfare and it is important to have organizations that are willing to measure themselves against national standards and undergo rigorous evaluation by an independent accrediting body."

URAC, formerly known as the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission, is an independent, nonprofit health care accrediting organization dedicated to promoting quality health care through accreditation, education and measurement.

URAC's accreditation process involves a four-phase review, which can take as long as six months to complete. After completing a desktop review of BCBSND's policies and procedures, contracts and departmental plans, the accreditation review team conducts an on-site review to verify compliance with the standards.

URAC reviewers conducted audits, analyzed personnel and credentialing files, reviewed education and quality management programs. After review of BCBSND's desktop and on-site review findings, URAC's accreditation and executive committees scored BCBSND 100 percent compliant in both applications.

BCBSND has held URAC accreditation for Health Utilization Management standards since 1993 and in 2013 received provisional accreditation for Health Plan for Health Insurance Exchange, which is required for all insurers to participate on state health insurance exchanges or marketplaces.

The URAC accreditation process demonstrates a commitment to quality services and serves as a framework to improve business processes through benchmarking organizations against nationally recognized standards.

Cindy Gohner, director of quality management at BCBSND, said this latest URAC accreditation means that the company fully meets strict quality standards, which leads to increased operational efficiencies and helps the company deliver solutions to improve the care and health of its members.

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