Anthem’s Missouri Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan have retained its excellent accreditation status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) which they first received in 2002. NCQA is an independent, non-profit organization steadfast in evaluating and reporting on the quality of managed care plans, managed behavioral healthcare organizations, preferred provider organizations, new health plans, physician organizations, credentials verification organizations, disease management programs and other health-related programs. Receiving the highest possible level reflects how a health plan ensures that its members are getting high quality care.

“NCQA’s Excellent Accreditation status is reserved for the best health plans in the nation,” said Margaret E. O’Kane, president of NCQA. “It is only awarded to those plans that meet or exceed NCQA’s rigorous requirements for consumer protection and quality improvement and deliver excellent clinical care.”

The initial NCQA Accreditation survey process includes on- and off-site appraisals of more than 60 standards and selected HEDIS® performance measures conducted by a team of physicians and managed care experts. Maintenance of status is based on 2009 HEDIS results. HEDIS is a tool used by more than 90 percent of America’s health plans to measure performance regarding important dimensions of care and service.

“We are an organization committed to continuous quality improvement, and I believe that has again been validated by NCQA,” said Dennis Matheis, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri. “Anthem is proud to have improved both its CAHPS® member satisfaction and HEDIS® effectiveness of care scores in the 2009 collection of these measures. We have a long and proud tradition of ensuring that our members receive high-quality service. Receiving objective recognition of that is rewarding for all of us.”