Newly established accreditation recognizes Wellpoint New Jersey Inc.’s commitment to health equity, prioritizing the needs of socioeconomically marginalized individuals at the highest risk for adverse health outcomes
ISELIN, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Wellpoint New Jersey, Inc. (formerly Amerigroup New Jersey) recently earned the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Health Equity Accreditation Plus, a recognition of Wellpoint New Jersey Inc.’s leadership in developing solutions to enhance access equitable, high-quality healthcare. It further underscores Wellpoint New Jersey Inc.’s commitment to eliminating health disparities in underserved communities to improve health outcomes and reduce overall treatment costs.
“NCQA’s Health Equity Accreditation Plus recognizes our unwavering dedication to eliminating health disparities and ensuring access to high-quality care for everyone,” said Patrick Fox, President, Wellpoint New Jersey, Inc. “This milestone positions Wellpoint New Jersey, Inc. at the forefront of advancing health equity through our innovative and impactful programs that provide access to individualized care to improve the whole health of our members.”
NCQA Health Equity Accreditation Plus builds upon the Health Equity Accreditation Designation Wellpoint New Jersey, Inc. received last year, when it was recognized among the first Medicaid plans in the nation to create a strategic framework that prioritizes health equity based on race, ethnicity, language, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
The new Health Equity Accreditation Plus goes a step further by acknowledging Wellpoint NJ Inc.’s data-driven approach to identify and collect information on individuals’ social needs. This data enables Wellpoint New Jersey Inc. to develop personalized services and support to combat health inequities and establish impactful relationships with community-based organizations (CBOs) to improve the health outcomes of individuals.
One way Wellpoint New Jersey, Inc. is advancing its health equity mission is through deep and collaborative relationships with local community-based organizations (CBO’s). These relationships and local programming addresses health-related social needs by collaborating with CBOs, such as food banks and other non-profits to provide needed infrastructure and resources. In addition, the local plan has worked in close collaboration with our state partners at the Department of Human Services to address disparities in maternal and child health and implement the State’s programmatic goals to address health related social needs.
“Racial and ethnic disparities have hindered quality healthcare progression for many Americans,” said Margaret E. O’Kane, NCQA President. “Organizations earning the Health Equity Accreditation Plus like Wellpoint New Jersey, Inc. are leading the way in bridging this gap, and NCQA salutes their commitment.”
About NCQA
NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA’s Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA’s website (ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make more-informed health care choices. NCQA can be found online at ncqa.org, on Twitter @ncqa, on Facebook at facebook.com/NCQA.org/ and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/niqab.
About Wellpoint
Wellpoint, part of the Elevance Health family of brands, focuses on improving physical health as well as the behavioral and social drivers that impact it through a comprehensive suite of Medicare, Medicaid, and Commercial products. The Wellpoint companies offer healthcare services for consumers at any stage of life seeking to make the right care decisions and helps individuals and communities make real, positive progress with health plans that foster independence, confidence, and whole-person health. For more information, please visit www.wellpoint.com.
Contacts
Cathy Cantone (Wellpoint)
(908) 327-3013
[email protected]
