NCQA Awards Full Accreditation to the ValueOptions® New York City Service Center

NORFOLK, Va., Jan. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ValueOptions®, the nation's largest independent behavioral health and wellness company, announced today that its New York City Service Center received Full Accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). The three-year Accreditation, which covers the center's commercial book of business, runs through December 19, 2014.

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 is committed to providing health care quality information for consumers, purchasers, health care providers and researchers.

NCQA accredits and certifies managed behavioral health care organizations (MBHOs). NCQA MBHO Accreditation is a nationally recognized evaluation that purchasers, regulators and consumers can use to assess managed behavioral health care organizations.

"ValueOptions^' MBHO Accreditation is proof that it's an organization which works hard to coordinate care, ensure access and provide good customer support for members," said Margaret E. O'Kane, NCQA president. "It's a sign that ValueOptions is focused on improving the behavioral health of its members."

NCQA MBHO Accreditation is a voluntary review process. NCQA reviews include rigorous on-site and off-site evaluations conducted by a team of physicians and managed care experts. A national oversight committee of physicians and behavioral health providers analyzes the team's findings and assigns an accreditation level based on the MBHO's performance compared to NCQA standards.

Full Accreditation is granted for a period of three years to those plans that have excellent programs for continuous quality improvement and meet NCQA's rigorous standards.

NCQA MBHO Accreditation standards are developed with input from employers, health plans, state and federal regulators, MBHOs and other experts and are demanding. Standards are set high to encourage MBHOs to continuously enhance their quality.

NCQA MBHO Accreditation standards are intended to help organizations achieve the highest level of performance possible, reduce patient risk for untoward outcomes and create an environment of continuous improvement.

There are approximately 60 standards for quality included in the following categories:

• Quality Management and Improvement
• Utilization Management
• Credentialing and Recredentialing
• Members' Rights and Responsibilities
• Preventive Behavioral Health Care Services

"We are pleased that NCQA has recognized the quality of work provided by our New York City Service Center," said Michael Kaseman, Senior Vice President, Health Plans and Employer Solutions at ValueOptions. "This Accreditation validates our standards of excellence for service, and it reflects our promise to provide our members with access to the highest quality of care."

About ValueOptions, Inc.®

ValueOptions®, the nation's largest independent behavioral health and wellness company, manages publicly funded and employer benefit programs that cover more than 30 million individuals nationwide. Maintaining a national network of more than 127,000 provider locations, we partner with national and regional health plans to deliver superior behavioral health care management for their members. When working directly with employers, we are an industry leader, managing mental health and substance abuse services, employee assistance programs and a wide variety of wellness benefits for organizations of all sizes – including more than 10 percent of the Fortune 500. We also serve both military and civilian employees of the federal government with innovative programs that positively impact daily life. And, we hold public sector contracts in 14 states, providing care management services and an array of cutting-edge, community-based programs to Medicaid-eligible populations. At ValueOptions, we help our clients build a Culture of Health. We help members move down the path to wellness and embrace recovery and resiliency in their daily lives. We help people live their lives to the fullest potential. Visit www.valueoptions.com for more information.

SOURCE ValueOptions, Inc.