Behavioral Health Accreditation
NCQA’s Behavioral Health Accreditation, formerly Managed Behavioral Healthcare Organization (MBHO) Accreditation, demonstrates an organization’s commitment to follow evidence-based practices to provide high-quality care.
A QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FRAMEWORK
As behavioral health care continues to expand, organizations must demonstrate not only access to services, but also the value and effectiveness of their programs. NCQA’s Behavioral Health Accreditation standards offer an accessible, high-quality framework grounded in best practices to help organizations meet these expectations.
Key focus areas include:
- Network management, to build responsive, diverse practitioner networks aligned with population needs and care priorities.
- Population health management, to encourage organizations to understand and develop programs to support the needs of the populations they serve.
- Quality improvement through measurement, to support clinical quality and improve patient experience.
2026 Behavioral Health Standards & Guidelines
Effective for surveys with a start date of July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
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2026 Behavioral Health Accreditation Survey Readiness Package
Effective for surveys with a start date of July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
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WHY Behavioral Health Accreditation?
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Optimal Program Efficiency
The standards support a framework that applies best practices to improve access and outcomes in behavioral health care.
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Elevate Your Organization’s Status
Demonstrate the quality of your organization’s program to health plans, employers, regulators and consumers.
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Enhance Contracting Opportunities
NCQA Behavioral Health Accreditation demonstrates quality and accountability, helping position your organization for payer partnerships.
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Satisfy Health Plan Requirements
Accreditation can support contracting strategies by signaling adherence to standards and reducing duplication through automatic credit options.
RELATED PROGRAMS
NCQA offers several related programs for organizations eligible for the Managed Behavioral Healthcare Organization Accreditation. Each program helps organizations improve their operations and initiatives in targeted areas and demonstrate their commitment to quality.
Long-Term Services and Supports Distinction
NCQA offers a Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Distinction for organizations that provide managed health services and coordinate social services for LTSS.
The LTSS standards provide a framework for organizations to deliver effective person-centered care that meets people’s needs and aligns with state requirements.
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Accreditations in Health Outcomes and Community-Focused Care
NCQA offers two programs to identify and address barriers that prevent patients from accessing high-quality care, Health Outcomes Accreditation and Community-Focused Care Accreditation. Each has a data-driven, continuous quality improvement framework tailored to key drivers of health outcomes:
- Health Outcomes Accreditation.
- Community-Focused Care Accreditation.
Each program has a data-driven, continuous quality improvement framework tailored to key drivers of health outcomes.
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