Health Outcomes Accreditation FAQs

About NCQA Accreditation Programs

NCQA’s programs are developed and updated in collaboration with subject matter experts, healthcare organizations, healthcare consumers and their advocates, community-based organizations and state partners.

Health Outcomes Accreditation was developed under the guidance of cross-sector expert advisory panels in 2009 and 2021. Subsequent program updates have been guided by extensive literature reviews, qualitative interviews and public comments to ensure that programs reflect current evidence and industry needs.

What is Health Outcomes Accreditation?

NCQA’s Health Outcomes Accreditation program helps healthcare organizations identify and address barriers that prevent their members/patients from accessing high-quality care.

How is this Accreditation related to Health Equity Accreditation?

Health Outcomes Accreditation, released under the name of Health Equity Accreditation in 2021, is a standalone program that evolved from NCQA’s Multicultural Health Care (MHC) Distinction, released 2010, and the Office of Minority Health’s National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards.

What are the benefits of earning this Accreditation?

Organizations Accredited in Health Outcomes benefit from this program’s 15+ years of experience and demonstrate that they use a balance of data-driven, standardized methods and tailored interventions to improve overall population health by:

• Cultivating an understanding of their population and its unique or specific needs.
• Identifying disparities or differences in health outcomes, experience and access.
• Acting to address barriers that drive these differences, and
• Continuously measuring improvement.

Do I need another NCQA Accreditation to earn Health Outcomes Accreditation?

No. You can earn the accreditation independent of other NCQA programs.

How is Health Outcomes Accreditation related to Community-Focused Care Accreditation?

Health Outcomes Accreditation and Community-Focused Care Accreditation are two standalone NCQA Accreditation programs that help organizations develop a comprehensive understanding of their patients and members and be accountable for taking action to improve health equity, outcomes, experience and access.

While either Accreditation can be pursued independently or simultaneously, pursuing both together can establish a comprehensive understanding and ability to act effectively on the complex, interrelated factors that prevent patients from achieving their best health and accessing care that meets their unique needs. Learn more about Community-Focused Care Accreditation.

What organizations are eligible to earn this Accreditation?

Health plans, health systems, hospitals, clinics, FQHCs, practices, specialty benefits administrators, MBHOs and organizations that provide population health, wellness, case management or medication management services—and more—are eligible.

Where can I find the standards and guidelines?

Standards and guidelines are available in the NCQA Store as part of the Survey Readiness Package.

How do we earn Accreditation?

1. Download the free program toolkit for information about program requirements and the NCQA survey process.
2. Discuss the Accreditations with an NCQA program expert. Request a meeting by completing this form.
3. Purchase the Survey Readiness Package for Accreditations in Health Outcomes and Community-Focused Care for access to the standards and guidelines, in-depth program educational resources, a gap analysis tool and live town halls with NCQA program experts.
4. Conduct a gap analysis to evaluate your organization’s compliance with program requirements and identify when you’ll be ready for survey.
5. Ask questions! As you review the standards and guidelines, submit questions to NCQA program experts through My NCQA.
6. Submit a pre-application form to the NCQA program expert you met in step 2.
7. Submit an online application. An NCQA representative will walk you through the process.
8. Purchase the survey tool to begin preparing evidence for your upcoming survey.
9. Implement new processes, and update policies, processes, reporting or system capabilities to align with program requirements—plan to be fully compliant with requirements at least 6 months before your scheduled survey date.
10. Submit your survey tool on your survey submission date.
11. NCQA reviews your submission and issues a status determination within 90 days.

Read more about the survey process here.

How long does it take to earn Accreditation?

Plan a survey submission date 12–15 months from the time of your application, although your readiness depends on gaps that were surfaced during your gap analysis. Organizations already working within or close to NCQA guidelines may require a shorter preparation time frame.

How do we start?

If you aren’t currently Accredited and want to learn more, contact NCQA. Download the program’s free program toolkit for information about program requirements and the NCQA survey process.

If you have current Accreditation and want to talk to someone about your status, renewal or adding Accreditations, submit a question through My NCQA.

Where can I find information?

Free program toolkit. Overview of program requirements and the NCQA survey process.

Accreditation Process and Timeline. Key steps, timing and resources for a successful Accreditation journey.

Survey Readiness Package. Access to the complete standards and guidelines, gap analysis tool, program educational courses and live town halls with NCQA program experts.

Interactive Survey Tool (IRT). The complete standards and guidelines. You can also self-score your organization’s survey readiness—the tool calculates your potential survey score.

Which organizations have earned NCQA Accreditation?

You can find a directory of Accredited organizations on the NCQA Report Cards.