National Committee for Quality Assurance

National Committee for Quality Assurance is an independent, 501(c) (3) non-profit organization whose mission is to improve health care quality everywhere. This Web site is a key part of that effort. It allows us to provide you and millions of other visitors with information you can use to help make more informed decisions about your health care.

National Committee for Quality Assurance's Mission, Vision and Values:

National Committee for Quality Assurance mission: To improve the quality of health care delivered to people everywhere.

National Committee for Quality Assurance vision: To become the most widely trusted source of information driving health care quality improvement.

Core values of National Committee for Quality Assurance:

• National Committee for Quality Assurance passion is improving health care.
• National Committee for Quality Assurance stands for accountability in health care.
• National Committee for Quality Assurance empowers our customers through compelling information.
• People are National Committee for Quality Assurance’s most valued resource. 
• National Committee for Quality Assurance strives for excellence in customer service. 

National Committee for Quality Assurance evaluates health care in three different ways:

• Through accreditation (a rigorous on-site review of key clinical and administrative processes);
• Through the Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS® -- a tool used to measure performance in key areas like immunization and mammography screening rates); and
• Through a comprehensive member satisfaction survey. 

Although participation in National Committee for Quality Assurance accreditation and certification programs is voluntary, more than half the nation’s HMOs currently participate. And almost 90 percent of all health plans measure their performance using HEDIS.

If you're shopping for a health plan, you narrow your choices.  But National Committee for Quality Assurance encourages you to make a final decision about which plan is right for you, based on your specific concerns. Is your doctor in the network? Are alternative therapies covered? What are your out-of-pocket costs? Will you need a referral to see a specialist?  These are important questions. Answering them will help you use the other information on National Committee for Quality Assurance site to find the right health plan for your situation.