Healthy Blue Earns NCQA Health Equity Accreditation Plus

Newly established accreditation recognizes Healthy Blue’s commitment to health equity, prioritizing the needs of socioeconomically marginalized individuals at the highest risk for adverse health outcomes.

COLUMBIA, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Healthy Blue Missouri recently earned the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Health Equity Accreditation Plus, a recognition of Healthy Blue’s leadership in developing solutions to enhance access to equitable, high-quality healthcare. It further underscores Healthy Blue’s commitment to eliminating health disparities in underserved communities to improve health outcomes and reduce overall treatment costs.

“NCQA’s Health Equity Accreditation Plus recognizes our unwavering dedication to eliminating health disparities and helping ensure access to high-quality care for everyone,” said Jeff Davis, Healthy Blue Missouri President. “This milestone positions Healthy Blue at the forefront of advancing health equity through our innovative 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 Healthy Blue received last year, when they were 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 Healthy Blue’s data-driven approach to help identify and collect information on individuals’ social needs. This data enables Healthy Blue to develop personalized services and supports to combat health inequities, leveraging partnerships with community-based organizations (CBOs) to help improve the health outcomes of individuals.

Healthy Blue is advancing its health equity mission through various innovative programs including Community Connected Care. This program addresses health-related social needs by collaborating with CBOs, such as food banks and other non-profits to provide needed infrastructure and resources. Additionally, Healthy Blue added coverage of doula services for pregnant people at high-risk due to inequity. This program partners with CBOs to provide pregnancy, birthing, and post-partum support, as well as assistance with health-related social needs, to help ensure care for the whole person.

“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 Healthy Blue 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 HEALTHY BLUE

Healthy Blue is a Medicaid product offered by Missouri Care, Inc., a MO HealthNet Managed Care health plan contracting with the Missouri Department of Social Services. Healthy Blue is administered by Missouri Care, Inc. in cooperation with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City. Missouri Care, Inc. and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City are both independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Healthy Blue recognizes the challenges low-income and underserved individuals face, and tailors its programs such that health plan members are assured care that is not only accessible, but also accountable, comprehensive, integrated and patient-centered. Healthy Blue provides ongoing community relations and outreach to encourage members to become active participants in their healthcare. To learn more about Healthy Blue, visit www.myhealthybluemo.com and follow the company on Facebook and Twitter @HealthyBlueMO and LinkedIn @healthy-blue-mo.