Nationwide Better Health Receives URAC Health Utilization Management Accreditation

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nationwide Better Health^SM, a leading provider of health and productivity management solutions, announced today that it has been awarded Health Utilization Management Accreditation from URAC, a Washington DC-based health care accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the health care industry. URAC’s Health Utilization Management Accreditation standards require companies to establish a process to assess, plan and implement case management interventions.

“We’re pleased to be recognized with the URAC Health Utilization Management Accreditation for our commitment to excellence in the industry,” said Dr. Neil Gordon, chief medical and science officer for Nationwide Better Health. “This truly underscores the promise made to our customers and partners by demonstrating compliance with national standards for utilization management services.”

URAC’s current Health Utilization Management standards build on the Core Accreditation Standards, and:

• Establish consistency and maintain the highest confidentiality in UM processes
• Serve as the basis for many states’ laws and regulations and are the most widely recognized UM standards at the state and federal level
• Are applicable to stand-alone UM organizations and UM functions within health benefits programs such as indemnity insurance, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs), and the newer Consumer-Directed Health Care plans
• Can be adopted by specialty UM companies, such as behavioral health and CAM
• Are compatible with the 2002 U.S. Department of Labor claims regulations

“Nationwide Better Health should be commended for meeting strict quality standards,” said Alan P. Spielman, URAC president and CEO. “It is critically important for health care organizations to make a commitment to quality and accountability. URAC accreditation is a demonstration of that commitment.”

Nationwide Better Health’s utilization management program ensures efficient use of employer’s health care dollars by providing employees with appropriate care for their conditions through focused utilization review. The company’s utilization management services compliment its case and disease management programs.

About URAC

URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization, is well-known as a leader in promoting health care quality through its accreditation and certification programs. URAC offers a wide range of quality benchmarking programs and services that keep pace with the rapid changes in the health care system, and provide a symbol of excellence for organizations to validate their commitment to quality and accountability. Through its broad-based governance structure and an inclusive standards development process, URAC strives to ensure that all stakeholders are represented in establishing meaningful quality measures for the entire health care industry. For more information, visit www.urac.org.

About Nationwide Better Health

Nationwide Better Health^SM, a subsidiary of Nationwide^®, is a leading provider of health and productivity management solutions, aimed at improving the health and productivity of America’s workforce. Nationwide Better Health is the first company to have one of the best collections of health and productivity services available today, including health and wellness, workplace benefits and disease, disability, absence, medical and maternity management. The company’s offerings work together and independently to address both sides of the cost equation: increased efficiency of health and productivity programs and better employee health and well-being to reduce health care-related costs. For more information, call 866.404.6924 or visit: www.nwbetterhealth.com.

Nationwide Better Health with the Nationwide framemark and On Your Side is a federally registered service mark, and Nationwide Better Health is a service mark of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

Nationwide Better Health

Elizabeth Stelzer, 614-249-1025

[email protected]

Source: Nationwide Better Health