ST. LOUIS, Dec. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Managed Health
Services Indiana (MHS), Centene Corporation's (NYSE: CNC) health
maintenance organization serving Hoosier Healthwise and the Healthy
Indiana Plan (HIP), has achieved national Health Plan Accreditation
with a Commendable status from the National Committee for Quality
Assurance (NCQA). The NCQA Health Plan Accreditation is a
nationally-recognized evaluation that purchasers, regulators and
consumers can use to assess health plans.
NCQA Accreditation evaluates how well a health plan manages all
parts of its delivery system — physicians, hospitals, other
providers and administrative services — in order to continuously
improve the quality of care and services provided to its
members.
NCQA Accreditation surveys include rigorous onsite and offsite
evaluations conducted by a team of physicians and health plan
experts. A national oversight committee of physicians analyzes the
team's findings and assigns an accreditation level based on the
performance level of each plan being evaluated to NCQA's
standards.
"Achieving an accreditation status of Commendable from NCQA is a
sign that a health plan is serious about quality," said Margaret E.
O'Kane, president of NCQA. "It is awarded to plans whose service
and clinical quality meet or exceed NCQA's rigorous requirements
for consumer protection and quality improvement."
"We are very proud to have received an NCQA Commendable status,
as we continuously make it a priority to offer our members the
highest quality healthcare programs and services," said MHS CEO
Patrick Rooney.
NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to
improving healthcare quality by providing information through the
web and the media in order to help consumers, employers and others
make more informed healthcare choices.
About Managed Health Services
Managed Health Services Indiana (MHS) is a health maintenance
organization that has been serving the Hoosier Healthwise and
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) population in
partnership with the Hoosier Healthwise Program since 1995 and
beginning in January 2011, the
Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP). MHS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Centene Corporation, a leading, multi-line healthcare enterprise
offering both core Medicaid and specialty services. For more, visit
MHS online at www.mhsindiana.com.
About Centene Corporation
Centene Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading
multi-line healthcare enterprise that provides programs and related
services to the rising number of under-insured and uninsured
individuals. Many receive benefits provided under Medicaid,
including the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as well
as Aged, Blind or Disabled (ABD), Foster
Care, long-term care, other state-sponsored programs and
Medicare (Special Needs Plans). Centene's CeltiCare subsidiary
offers states unique "exchange-based" and other cost-effective
coverage solutions for low-income populations. The company operates
local health plans and offers a range of health insurance
solutions. It also contracts with other healthcare and commercial
organizations to provide specialty services including behavioral
health, life and health management, managed vision, telehealth
services, and pharmacy benefits management. More information
regarding Centene is available at www.centene.com.
SOURCE Centene Corporation