NCQA > Programs > Certification > HIP Certification

With the release of Physician and Hospital Quality Certification on June 26, 2008 and the release of Wellness and Health Promotion (WHP) Product Suite for public comment on June 2, 2008, NCQA is making the following changes to the HIP Certification Program:

NCQA is transitioning one HIP certification option to PHQ Certification.

NCQA is transitioning HIP Hospital Performance (6) to Physician and Hospital Quality 2. With the release of the PHQ program on June 26, 2008, NCQA will accept no further applications for certification on HIP 6. Organizations that hold HIP 6 certification have the option of holding the HIP 6 certificate or converting to PHQ 2. Conversion is voluntary and does not extend the date of certification. The requirements in PHQ 2 certification match those of HIP 6 certification allowing for a direct conversion with no additional review required. Health plans will continue to receive auto-credit for PHQ 2 when they contract with an organization with either HIP 6 or PHQ 2 certification.
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NCQA is transitioning three HIP certification options to WHP.

Three HIP certification areas closely align with the larger scope of wellness presented in WHP. These areas are:

Health Risk Appraisals (1)
Interactive Consumer Health Tools (2)
Encouraging Wellness and Prevention (5)

Organizations that achieve HIP status in the above three areas will continue to hold that status for the duration of their certification (two years after the certification was awarded). Organizations that are interested in achieving HIP certification in the above three areas must submit an application by June 30, 2008 and start their surveys no later than October 1, 2008. After October 1, 2008, NCQA will no longer offer certification in these three areas under the HIP certification program. The WHP product suite will include comparable certification options. Organizations seeking HIP certification in these three areas will have the opportunity to seek certification in similar areas upon the release of WHP in early 2009.

For more information about changes to the HIP program please contact Jeannie Simpson, Director of Customer Outreach or Jim Roney, Director of Survey Support.