UPMC Health Plan Is Again Listed Among Nation's 'Highest-Ranked' For Its Medicaid and Commercial Plans

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- UPMC Health Plan's commercial and Medicaid plans once again finished among the highest-ranked health plans in the nation, according to a report released by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

For the ninth time in 10 years, UPMC Health Plan's Medicaid HMO program, UPMC for You, was the No. 1 Medicaid plan in Pennsylvania, in "NCQA's Medicaid Health Insurance Plan Rankings 2013-14." Overall, UPMC for You was ranked 15^th nationally among 131 plans.

UPMC Health Plan's commercial HMO plan was ranked No. 1 in Pennsylvania and No. 11 in the nation, in an overall ranking of 484 private plans in "NCQA's Private Health Insurance Plan Rankings for 2013-14." UPMC Health Plan's HMO plan received the highest possible rating of 5 out of 5 for customer experience, prevention and treatment.

The 2013-14 NCQA rankings for all health insurance plans will appear in the November 2013 issue of Consumer Reports.

"The NCQA measures show that we perform well in areas that matter most to our members – quality and customer satisfaction," said Diane P. Holder, President and CEO, UPMC Health Plan. "Our strong showings every year reflect a commitment by UPMC Health Plan and our staff to provide the highest quality service to our members."

These rankings, along with a four-star quality rating for its Medicare Advantage program, UPMC for Life, are a reflection of the innovative clinical programs that UPMC Health Plan and their clinical partners at UPMC create. UPMC Health Plan works closely with its network of physician practices, many of whom have also received recognition from NCQA, including the UPMC physicians who were credentialed as one of the earliest NCQA patient-centered medical homes in the region.

UPMC Health Plan works closely with regional physicians and hospitals to facilitate care coordination, improved access, and exceptional clinical services and supports. These activities are reflected in the excellent rankings and are one reason why so many of UPMC Health Plan's products and services are ranked No. 1 in Pennsylvania.

NCQA rankings are based on three types of quality measures: clinical quality, member satisfaction, and the results from NCQA's review of standards. NCQA's Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS^®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care.

About UPMC Health Plan
UPMC Health Plan, the second-largest health insurer in western Pennsylvania, is owned by UPMC, an integrated global health enterprise. The integrated partner companies of the UPMC Insurance Services Division – which includes UPMC Health Plan, UPMC WorkPartners, LifeSolutions (EAP), UPMC for You (Medical Assistance), and Community Care Behavioral Health – offer a full range of group health insurance, Medicare, Special Needs, CHIP, Medical Assistance, behavioral health, employee assistance, and workers' compensation products and services to over 1.9 million members. Our local provider network includes UPMC as well as community providers, totaling more than 135 hospitals and more than 11,500 physicians throughout Pennsylvania and parts of Ohio, West Virginia, and Maryland. For more information, visit www.upmchealthplan.com.

SOURCE UPMC Health Plan