EFFECTIVE FOR SURVEYS SCHEDULED AFTER JULY 1, 2026
NCQA is making changes to its Managed Behavioral Healthcare Organization (MBHO) program. MBHO will be renamed Behavioral Health Accreditation. The Behavioral Health Accreditation was released on November 18, 2025, and is effective for surveys on or after July 1, 2026. Existing MBHO customers will transition to the Behavioral Health Accreditation after July 1, 2026. The 2026 Standards will be available to purchase on December 15, 2025.
What is Behavioral Health Accreditation?
- NCQA is renaming the Managed Behavioral Healthcare Organization (MBHO) to Behavioral Health Accreditation. The name change reflects the evolution and expansion of behavioral health management program structures.
- The Behavioral Health Accreditation was released on November 18, 2025, and is effective for surveys on or after July 1, 2026. Existing MBHO customers will begin transitioning to the Behavioral Health Accreditation after July 1, 2026. The 2026 Standards will be available to purchase on December 15, 2025.
What are the major changes in the Behavioral Health Accreditation, formerly MBHO program?
In addition to the name change, the following are key updates.
- Health Plan Alignment: Behavioral Health Accreditation 2026 has updated standard categories to further align with Health Plan Accreditation (HPA). The Care Coordination (CC) standards have been integrated into other content areas, and new categories for Population Health Management (PHM) and Network Management (NET) have been added. Members’ Rights and Responsibilities have been renamed to Member Experience (ME).
- New and updated requirements: NCQA has introduced new standards or updated existing requirements. These updates mainly focus on Population Health Management, Network Management, Quality Management and Improvement and Utilization Management, along with additional updates for clarification. All changes are outlined in each element’s summary of changes.
- Accreditation Statuses: NCQA replaced the One Year status with Provisional status, which requires organizations to undergo a Resurvey after 12 months. NCQA also added an Interim Survey option to provide a glidepath for Behavioral Health Organizations toward full accreditation.
- Simplified Scoring: NCQA revised outcomes of Met, Partially Met and Not Met in each element to be more consistent with scoring for other NCQA Accreditation/Certification products.
Will organizations need to meet new requirements immediately?
Organizations with surveys scheduled on or after July 1, 2026, will be assessed by the new standards.
How does Accreditation help my organization?
Behavioral Health Accreditation:
- Provides a structured framework for internal quality improvement across key operational areas.
- Elevates your organization’s status in the marketplace by demonstrating adherence to nationally recognized standards for behavioral health care.
- Improves contracting opportunities by signaling readiness to meet payer expectations, including those related to quality, access and accountability.
- Satisfies health plan requirements by aligning with NCQA’s Health Plan Accreditation (HPA) standards—this supports contracting eligibility, delegation oversight and performance reporting.
- Provides automatic credit by allowing organizations with Behavioral Health Accreditation to receive credit for select elements within HPA, reducing duplication and streamlining the accreditation process for health plans that delegate behavioral health services.
What are the key program changes?
This list highlights key changes; please review the complete Standards and Guidelines for the full list of updates.
- Population Health Management (PHM): Integrates some of the previous MBHO Quality Improvement (QI) standards for behavioral health screening, self-management tools and complex case management with Health Plan Accreditation PHM standards that support organizations in evaluating and addressing the needs of their entire population. New PHM standards include:
- PHM 1: Population Health Management Strategy.
- PHM 2: Population Identification.
- PHM 6: Population Health Management Impact.
- Network Management (NET): Leverages MBHO QI, CC and Rights and Responsibilities standards, and integrates elements from Health Plan Accreditation NET standards. The following new NET requirements were added:
- NET 1, Element A: Cultural Needs and Preferences. Requires organizations to assess needs and preferences based on age, urban or rural geography, disability and veteran or military status.
- NET 1, Element B: Availability and Accessibility. Evaluates the availability of both prescribers and non-prescribers.
- NET 2, Element A: Access to appointments for after-hours care.
- NET 3: Assessment of Network Adequacy.
- Utilization Management (UM): The following new requirements were added to UM 1: Program Structure:
- Element A, Factor 3: Requires the organization’s UM program description to specify that the program is overseen by a UM committee or another standing committee.
- Element A, Factor 4: Requires the UM program description to specify the organization’s process for determining items and services that require prior authorization.
- Elements B–D: Requires organizations to collect, report and evaluate UM rates.
- Element E: Requires the UM committee to review and identify opportunities and actions.
- Requires organizations to make UM criteria electronically available to practitioners at the point of care instead of upon request (UM 2, Element B).
- Revised the notification time frame from 14 calendar days to 7 calendar days for Medicare and Medicaid nonurgent preservice decisions (UM 5, Element A).
- Quality Management & Improvement (QI): NCQA moved former QI 10, Element C to QI 5, Element A, and introduced 8additional performance measures. To earn organizations must report at least 6 out of the 14 measures. This gives organizations more flexibility in choosing measures most relevant to their population.
- Member Experience (ME): The new Member Experience category combines standards from Quality Management and Improvement, Utilization Management and the previous Member’s Rights and Responsibilities standards. There are no new requirements in this category.
RETIRED
- QI 9: Clinical Practice Guidelines.
- QI 10, Element A (Process for Data Collection and Integration) and Element B (Clinical Quality Improvements).
- QI 11, Element A (Meaningful Clinical Improvements) and Element B (Meaningful Service Improvements).
What steps can an organization take to prepare before submission?
Conduct a self-assessment against applicable standards and guidelines to identify and address compliance gaps before your survey. Carefully review all requirements, paying close attention to explanations that define detailed requirements, data sources, scopes of review and look-back periods.
For program requirement details, see the Standards & Guidelines for Accreditation in Behavioral Health document.
Where can I find the Standards and Guidelines?
The Standards and Guidelines document is available for purchase in the NCQA Store.
What organizations are eligible for Behavioral Health Accreditation?
Any organization that provides behavioral health care services may apply for NCQA Behavioral Health Accreditation if it meets the criteria below.
- Has been in operation for at least six months, and
- Enrolls or receives enrollment of an identifiable eligible population that is eligible to access the network, and
- Provides comprehensive behavioral health care services through an organized delivery system across a continuum of care, and
- Performs functions addressed in the Standards and Guidelines for Accreditation in Behavioral Health (quality management and improvement, population health management, network management, utilization management, credentialing, member experience), either directly or through a service agreement, and
- Has a process for monitoring,
- Complies with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, including any licensing requirements.
- Complies with all anti-discrimination laws and regulations.
What is the process for earning Behavioral Health Accreditation?
The first step to earning accreditation is a discussion with an NCQA program expert. Purchase and review the program resources, conduct a gap analysis and submit your online application.
Align your organization’s processes with the Behavioral Health Accreditation standards. NCQA conducts the survey and determines your accreditation status within 30 days of the final review.
- Schedule a discussion with an NCQA program expert.
- Purchase and review the program resources.
- Conduct a gap analysis.
- Submit your online application.
- Align your organization’s processes with the Behavioral Health Accreditation standards.
- NCQA conducts the survey.
- NCQA determines your accreditation status within 30 days of the final review.
Read more about the survey process here.
What is the price for Behavioral Health Accreditation?
Pricing may vary by survey and is based on multiple factors. Full pricing information may be obtained by submitting a request through My NCQA.
How long does it take to earn Behavioral Health Accreditation?
The typical evaluation time frame is 12 months from application submission to decision, depending on an organization’s readiness. Some organizations may already be working within NCQA guidelines.
How do I get started?
If you are not currently accredited and want to learn more, contact NCQA. If you are currently accredited and have questions about your status, renewal, or adding accreditations, submit a question through My NCQA.
Where can I find information to help me get started?
- Accreditation Process and Timeline: Key steps, timing and resources for a successful accreditation.
- Standards and Guidelines: The complete standards and guidelines, including the intent and scope of review for each requirement.
- Behavioral Health Accreditation Survey Readiness Package: This package is designed only for customers newly initiating the Accreditation process.
What other organizations have earned Behavioral Health Accreditation?
Review the current report card of accredited Behavioral Health Accreditation organizations.