NCQA issues final certification standards

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) in Washington, DC, released final standards for its Physician Organization Certification program, which allows medical groups and independent practice associations to undergo a single survey rather than multiple reviews from health plans.

The certification program applies to groups that take on duties typically conducted by health plans, such as credentialing. Other certification areas include: utilization management, quality improvement, preventive health, medical records, and members’ rights and responsibilities. Final standards ($75), surveyor guidelines ($195), and data collection tools ($195) are available from the NCQA Publications Center. Telephone: (800) 839-6487. For more information, contact the Physician Organization Certification Help Line, (202) 955-3562. t