Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Earns NCQA Health Equity Accreditation Plus

Anthem’s Medicaid Health Plan is the first Managed Care Organization in Nevada to successfully achieve newly established accreditation.

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Nevada (Anthem) recently earned the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Health Equity Accreditation Plus, a recognition of Anthem’s leadership in developing solutions to enhance access to equitable, high-quality healthcare in Nevada. Anthem is the first Medicaid Managed Care Organization in Nevada to successfully achieve the newly established accreditation.

“NCQA’s Health Equity Accreditation Plus recognizes our unwavering dedication to eliminating health disparities in underserved communities aimed at improving health outcomes and reducing overall treatment costs for those we serve,” said Lisa Bogard, president, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Nevada Medicaid health plan. “We are honored to be the first managed care organization in Nevada to successfully achieve this milestone which solidifies our ongoing commitment to advancing health equity through innovative and impactful programs that provide access to individualized care to improve the whole health of our members.”

NCQA Health Equity Accreditation Plus builds upon the Health Equity Accreditation designation Anthem’s health plan received last year, when it was recognized among the first Medicaid plans in the nation to create a strategic framework that prioritizes health equity based on race, ethnicity, language, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

The new Health Equity Accreditation Plus goes a step further by acknowledging Anthem’s data-driven approach to identify and collect information on individuals’ social needs. This data enables Anthem to develop personalized services and supports to combat health inequities and establish impactful relationships with community-based organizations (CBOs) to improve the health outcomes of individuals.

One way Anthem is advancing its health equity mission is by partnering with CBOs such as The Doula Coop to improve maternal health outcomes for birthing people of color. The Doula Coop works to increase the number of doulas in Nevada by recruiting, training, and supporting new doulas. Studies show having the support of a doula through pregnancy, childbirth and beyond improves birth outcomes and reduces birthing complications.

“Racial and ethnic disparities have hindered quality healthcare progression for many Americans,” said Margaret E. O’Kane, NCQA President. “Organizations earning the Health Equity Accreditation Plus like Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Nevada are leading the way in bridging this gap, and NCQA salutes their commitment.”

About NCQA

NCQA is a private, nonprofit 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. NCQA’s website (ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make more-informed health care choices. NCQA can be found online at ncqa.org, on Twitter @ncqa, on Facebook at facebook.com/NCQA.org/ and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/ncqa.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Nevada

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Nevada is the trade name of Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Service, Inc. HMO products underwritten by HMO Colorado, Inc. dba HMO Nevada. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. For more information please visit at www.anthem.com, or LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook.