Novant Health is only 1 of 2 health systems in the nation to receive NCQA Health Equity Accreditation Plus
Following participation in an eight-month long pilot evaluation program, Novant Health has earned accreditation in the first cohort of the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA) Health Equity Accreditation Plus program. Novant Health is only one of two health systems in the country to leverage its time and resources to participate in the pilot and receive the NCQA Health Equity Accreditation Plus status.
As an advanced evaluation program, Health Equity Accreditation Plus builds on NCQA’s foundational Health Equity Accreditation framework.
Health Equity Accreditation Plus helps organizations that have the foundation of organizational readiness as defined by the Health Equity Accreditation standards use new processes and partnerships to address inequities in care and health outcomes. These include:
Partnering with community-based organizations.
Offering resources that support clinical and social needs.
Collecting data on community social risk factors and patients’ social needs.
Making clear to members and patients how their data are used, shared and protected.
“Health equity is a shared driver in improved quality, safety and human experience, and Novant Health has designed, launched and committed to sustain health equity beyond merely a program, but as a culture change strategy,” said Dr. Chere Gregory, senior vice president and chief health equity officer at Novant Health. “It was an honor to participate in the NCQA Health Equity Accreditation Plus pilot program, helping NCQA expand its vision while sharing and learning best practices from other organizations. We look forward to the advancement of health equity through continued partnership and best-practice learnings between other entities participating in this program.”
Novant Health has implemented strategies aimed at removing barriers to health care, closing health equity gaps and improving the overall health and wellness of all its communities, including equitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution, compassionate care designation for LGBTQ care on Physician Finder, education in culturally and linguistically sensitive care, achievement of its long-term breast cancer screening goal and more.
“Earning Health Equity Accreditation Plus shows that an organization is making a breakthrough in providing excellent health care to diverse populations. I congratulate any organization that achieves this level of distinction,” said NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane. “Eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in health care is essential to improving the quality of care overall.”
About NCQA Health Equity Accreditation Plus
NCQA’s Health Equity Accreditation Plus is for organizations whose health equity journey is more established. The organization collects data on social risk factors and social needs, establishes partnerships that support community-based organizations; engages consumers, members, and community stakeholders in program evaluation; and refers individuals to social resources that will have the most impact. Health Equity Accreditation and Health Equity Accreditation Plus are nationally recognized accreditations that purchasers, regulators, and consumers can use to distinguish organizations that meet rigorous standards for serving diverse populations. Health Equity Accreditation and Health Equity Accreditation Plus recognize organizations that lead the market in providing culturally and linguistically sensitive services and that work to reduce health care inequities. Health Equity Accreditation and Health Equity Accreditation Plus are voluntary for health plans, MBHOs, wellness organizations, population health organizations, case management organizations, health systems, hospital systems, ACOs, practices, hospitals and FQHCs. Organizations are not required to participate in other NCQA Accreditation programs.
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 Novant Health
Novant Health is an integrated network of hospitals, physician clinics and outpatient facilities that delivers a seamless and convenient healthcare experience to communities in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. The Novant Health network consists of more than 1,800 physicians and over 35,000 team members who provide care at more than 800 locations, including 15 hospitals and hundreds of outpatient facilities and physician clinics. In 2021, Novant Health provided more than $1.1 billion in community benefit, including financial assistance and services.
For more information, please visit our website at NovantHealth.org. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
