DETROIT, March 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Plan of Michigan announced today that it has been awarded Health Plan Accreditation by URAC, a Washington, D.C.–based health care accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the health care industry. HPM received Full Health Plan Accreditation with Health Utilization Management.

"We are delighted to receive this accreditation," said Shery Cotton, Health Plan of Michigan COO. "As Michigan's largest managed Medicaid program, we have consistently focused on delivering quality health care. Receiving full URAC accreditation is an honor, and reflects the hard work of our staff in this effort."

"By applying for and receiving Full Health Plan Accreditation, Health Plan of Michigan has demonstrated a commitment to quality health care," said Alan P. Spielman, 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."

Health Plan of Michigan (HPM) is physician owned and operated. HPM provides coverage for over 284,000 Michigan residents and is ranked as one of the nation's Top 20 Medicaid Health Plans by U.S. News & World Report. HPM is also a three-time winner of the CIO 100 Award, given by the editors of CIO Magazine to recognize excellence and achievement in IT. (2008, 2009, 2010)

HPM has an established record of providing quality health care, having been awarded "Excellent" accreditation status from NCQA (National Committee for Quality Assurance) for the past six years. Discussing HPM's interest in obtaining URAC accreditation, Shery Cotton noted that URAC includes a review of employees in addition to executives. "URAC verifies that HPM employees are not just properly trained, but also putting that training into practice." Cotton found that URAC was very responsive, answering questions and providing clarification during the accreditation process.

URAC-accredited health programs cover 120 million Americans, and it is the accreditation program used by most Blue Cross-Blue Shield organizations.

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, please visit www.hpmich.com.

SOURCE Health Plan of Michigan