THE BUREAU OF NATIONAL AFFAIRS: HEALTH CARE POLICY REPORT - JUNE 17, 2002
Nashville-Based Firm Gets First Approval In NCQA Disease Management Program
The National Committee for Quality Assurance has awarded its first general disease management accreditation to American Healthways, the accreditation body announced June 10.
NCQA said it tested the Nashville, Tenn.-based disease management firm for programs in diabetes, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. American Healthways is the first company to complete inspection, and about 20 others currently are being review by NCQA for potential accreditation, NCQA said. American Healthways said it provides disease and care management services to more than 500,000 patients nationwide.
On its Web site, NCQA said its disease management review process is unique in that it is primary an "off-site review" of electronically submitted materials, both self-assessed scores and supporting documentation. NCQA then confirms the review with a site visit.
Other companies whose reviews NCQA will complete shortly include AdvancePCS, GlaxoSmithKline Healthcare Management, and McKesson Health Solutions LLC.
Other Groups Active. Two other accreditation bodies, the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (known as URAC) and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) have disease management programs. URAC announced its final standards on April 15.
JCAHO launched in February a disease-specific care certification program. Later that month, JCAHO awarded the first certification to the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. In March, it handed out a disease-specific care certification to Marietta, Ga.-based WellStar Health System.
In another development in disease management, an associations of pharmacists said June 11 that more of its members are charging for disease management services. According to the National Community Pharmacists Association, the number of independent pharmacies charging a separate fee for DM services is "slowly increasing," but the association did not give specific numbers.
The federal government also is getting involved in disease management. Late in February, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that it would take applications for a three-year disease management demonstration project for chronically ill Medicare beneficiaries that includes coverage for prescription drugs.
