URAC ©
Medical Mutual Standards of Care Receive Full Accreditation
Medical Mutual has earned Full Accreditation for its Utilization
Management and Case Management programs from URAC, a non-profit organization
that establishes standards for the Managed Care industry. Full Accreditation is
the highest level of accreditation awarded by URAC.
"Medical Mutual has always been dedicated to providing continuous quality
improvement to its members," says Paula Sauer, Vice President of Care
Management. "This accreditation confirms we offer the highest level of clinical
integrity in the areas of utilization and case management."
Accreditation is a symbol of quality in the health care industry
that identifies best practices and promotes performance measurement by
evaluating operations and services against national standards developed by
experts and stakeholders in the health care marketplace. Accreditation also
advances the goal of value-based health care purchasing: obtaining the highest
quality care at the most reasonable cost. By engaging in a hands-on process of
evaluating quality and efficiency, URAC accreditation goes far beyond the
assurances provided by an RFP, and is a critical measure used for purchaser
decision making. Organizations earn accreditation by voluntarily undergoing a
rigorous and comprehensive review that ensures ongoing compliance.
URAC promotes continuous improvement in the quality and
efficiency of health care management through the processes of accreditation,
education and measurement. Health care organizations that wish to demonstrate
their commitment to consumer protection and empowerment, quality operations,
and regulatory compliance have the opportunity to be reviewed under a wide
variety of quality standards. These standards serve as “building blocks” for
quality improvement that can be expanded as organizations grow and evolve.
Founded in 1990, URAC’s first accreditation program was designed
for health care organizations performing utilization review (the practice of
determining whether a health care service is medically necessary). Since that
time, URAC has expanded its accreditation, education and measurement services
to cover nearly every functional aspect of health care management and health
insurance. URAC accredits over 400 healthcare organizations doing business in
the United States under at least one of its accreditation programs.