KANSAS CITY, Mo., Dec. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New Directions Behavioral Health® (New Directions) announced today that it has received a full, three-year accreditation renewal for Health Utilization Management (UM), version 7.2 from URAC, an independent, non-profit health care accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the health care industry.
URAC's Health UM Accreditation ensures that organizations conducting utilization review follow a process that is clinically sound and respects patients' and providers' rights while giving payers reasonable guidelines to follow.
"By receiving URAC accreditation, New Directions has demonstrated a commitment to quality health care," said URAC President and CEO Kylanne Green. "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 and undergo rigorous evaluation by an independent accrediting body."
URAC's standards for health UM address the use of evidence-based guidelines, outline specific reviewer requirements for each level of review, and require a policy preventing financial incentives to doctors and other providers based on consumers' use of health services.
"New Directions is proud to receive our seventh accreditation renewal in Health UM from URAC," said Shelley Bowen, vice president, Quality Management and Accreditations, for New Directions. "To maintain our accreditation, we had to meet 81 national standards for which we achieved a 100 percent score in each. I'm especially proud of our UM care managers whose passion and dedication to serving our members day in and day out is reflected in this accomplishment."
New Directions received special recognition for being compliant with two additional elements – interoperability and health literacy – known as leading indicators, which are optional and not yet widely adopted in health care. This achievement provides an indication that the company is in the forefront for where the health care industry may be heading.
About New Directions
One of the fastest growing behavioral health care companies in the nation, New Directions helps people live healthy, balanced lives through managed behavioral health care services, Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), organizational consulting and health coaching programs. For more information, visit ndbh.com.
About URAC
URAC is an independent, non-profit health care accrediting organization dedicated to promoting health care quality through accreditation, education, and measurement. Founded in 1990, URAC currently offers more than 30 accreditation programs across the continuum of health care services. For more information, visit urac.org.
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SOURCE New Directions Behavioral Health
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