ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) ranked Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States the #1 health plan in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.  The NCQA Health Insurance Plan Rankings initiative is a comprehensive and independent comparison that assesses 507 health plans nationally.

The data from NCQA's Private Health Insurance Plan Rankings 2014–2015 shows Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States is among the most successful health plans in the nation, scoring the maximum of 5 out of 5 in Consumer Experience, Prevention, and Treatment; the only plan to achieve 5 out of 5 in all three components in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

"At Kaiser Permanente, we have a better approach to health care. Every part of our members' care – doctors and specialists, pharmacies, labs, technology, hospitals, and health plan – are connected and working together," said Kim Horn (@KimHornKPMAS), President, Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States. "Amazing things happen when care and coverage are united in the cause of health. NCQA's ranking is a testament to our focus and dedication to quality care and member service."  

The rankings, which look at 240 measures, are based 60% on clinical quality measures, 25% on consumer satisfaction measures, and 15% on Health Plan Accreditation Standards. Overall, Kaiser Permanente, published under the name Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, was ranked #13 out of 507 plans in NCQA's Private Health Insurance Plan Rankings 2014–2015.

"NCQA offers one of the most important transparency initiatives in health care that should not be overlooked," said Bernadette Loftus, MD, Associate Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group. "These rankings may simply appear as numbers on paper, but they are truly a measurement of how we, as physicians, save lives – be it through early detection of cancer, avoiding a heart attack or stroke by controlling blood pressure, or ensuring appropriate and timely preventive care.  I'm extremely proud of what our 1,100 Permanente Physicians have accomplished on behalf of our 500,000 plus members."

About Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States
Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States region, headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, provides and coordinates complete health care services for more than 510,000 members through 29 medical centers in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Founded in 1980, Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States is a total health organization comprised of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc., and the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, P.C., an independent medical group that features more than 1,000 physicians. Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States was ranked in the nation's 20 top commercial health plans and 10 top Medicare health plans — and the No. 1 Commercial and Medicare plan for Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. — by "NCQA Health Insurance Plan Rankings 2013-2014 Private." For more information about Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States, visit kp.org or follow us on Twitter, twitter.com/KPMidAtlantic.

About NCQA
NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA's Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care.

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States