Health Plan Performance Standards Open for Comment

URAC, an independent healthcare accreditation and education organization, has opened a call for public comment on the performance measures proposed to be added to its accreditation standards for health plans.

The performance measures were developed by several stakeholders, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the American Medical Association, and the Pharmacy Quality Alliance.

Alan Spielman, president and CEO of URAC said in a statement that the goal is "to focus on measures that are meaningful and relevant for consumers, health plans, and purchasers."

The performance measures open for comment fall into several domains including:

• Care coordination
• Effectiveness of care
• Efficiency
• Healthcare disparities
• Health information technology integration/meaningful use
• Health plan administration
• Patient centeredness
• Patient safety