Kelsey-Seybold Clinic is Recertified as an Accountable Care Organization

Kelsey-Seybold is still Houston's Only Accredited Accountable Care Organization

Houston (February 9, 2016) –  The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has granted Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Accountable Care Accreditation – Level 2 status for an additional three years. Kelsey-Seybold Clinic is the only organization in Houston that has been designated by NCQA as an Accountable Care Organization.

"For years, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic has championed the case of the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) as a means to controlling healthcare costs and improving the quality of care for patients," said Spencer R. Berthelsen, M.D., Chairman and Managing Director of Kelsey-Seybold Clinic.  "Our ACO accreditation by the National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA) for the second time highlights our commitment to this model, one we believe is the innovative catalyst that will help revolutionize healthcare in the United States."

The NCQA Accountable Care Organization Accreditation is voluntary and evaluates an organization's ability to deliver coordinated, patient-centered care; to improve clinical quality; to enhance the patient experience; and to reduce costs through quality clinical practices.  Being named an accredited ACO by the NCQA helps purchasers and providers identify effective partners.  It also helps patients find physicians who are committed to providing the quality care they need, when they need it.

To receive accreditation, which is valid for three years, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic underwent a rigorous assessment that focused on 14 standards and 65 elements. Areas of evaluation include:

• ACO Structure and Operations
• Access to Needed Providers
• Patient-Centered Primary Care
• Care Management
• Care Coordination and Transitions
• Patient Rights and Responsibilities
• Performance Reporting and Quality Improvement

The NCQA also collected data on key clinical and service measures such as mammography screening rates, comprehensive diabetes care and consumer satisfaction. Based on the comprehensive survey, NCQA assigns a level status to the organization.

The NCQA ACO accreditation helps determine if an organization has the infrastructure for accountability to patients and employers on outcomes of care and cost. ACOs provide coordinated services which are preventive and proactive in nature, often reducing the need for high-cost hospitalization episodes associated with catastrophic care. "Three years ago, when Kelsey-Seybold Clinic was named the first organization to earn the NCQA ACO Accreditation, we were eager to take the feedback we received from our survey findings and improve upon them," said Leon Jerrels, Director of Quality Improvement. "The constant evaluation and improvement of our processes and procedures provides employers with the ability to evaluate the quality of ACOs in a marketplace, helping them to make decisions based on value. Our hope is that all Houston employers will consider an ACO as part of their benefit offerings in the next year."

About the NCQA ACO Program:

The NCQA program contains many consumer protections and aligns with consumer protection principles outlined in the National Partnership for Women & Families' Campaign for Better Care. ACOs are generally defined as provider-based entities that aim to improve the quality of health care and reduce cost growth for a group of people.  In order to have enough patients for quality reporting and managing financial risk, ACOs must serve at least 5,000 patients a year.

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 is committed to providing healthcare quality information for consumers, purchasers, health care providers and researchers.