What is the URAC accreditation?
Rachel Ellis
Published Jun 23, 2026
What is the URAC accreditation?
Founded in 1990, the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC) is a Washington DC-based healthcare accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the entire healthcare industry. This makes URAC a leader in promoting healthcare quality.
Who is accredited by URAC?
Accreditation standards for URAC programs are developed by independent experts, relying on advisory committees of experts in health care delivery….URAC.
| Type | Nonprofit |
|---|---|
| Key people | Shawn Griffin, MD, President and CEO |
| Products | Accreditation, Education and Measurement Services |
| Number of employees | over 60 |
What is the benefit of URAC accreditation?
A URAC-accredited organization meets CMS Medicare Advantage regulatory standards in the following areas: Quality improvement. Antidiscrimination. Confidentiality and accuracy of enrollee records.
What is the difference between NCQA and URAC?
NCQA accredits organizations ranging from health plans including HMOs and PPOs to physician networks and medical groups. URAC accredits health plan programs including dental plans, healthcare management programs, pharmacy quality management programs, and provider integration and coordination programs.
How many accreditation and certification programs does URAC offer?
Accreditation and Certification Directories URAC recognizes the quality of more than 1,000 health care organizations through its programs.
Does Medicare require accreditation?
Accreditation by an AO is voluntary and is not required for Medicare certification or participation in the Medicare Program. A provider’s or supplier’s ability to bill Medicare for covered services is not impacted if it chooses to discontinue accreditation from a CMS-approved AO or change AOs.
Does accreditation improve the performance of an organization?
Improved quality of care In certain specialty areas, accreditation programs even improve patient outcomes. In a survey by the Public Health Accreditation Board, 98% of respondents agreed that accreditation prompted their organization to improve quality and performance.
What are the two major accrediting agencies for healthcare programs?
Two nationally recognized accrediting agencies — Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) — have been granted deemed status with the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and the Health Care Financing Administration …
What are the main accrediting bodies for health care that govern all health care organizations?
These agencies include the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the American Medical Accreditation Program (AMAP), the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission/Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (AAHC/URAC), and the …
What is NCQA accreditation?
NCQA Health Plan Accreditation is a widely recognized, evidence-based program dedicated to quality improvement and measurement. It’s the only evaluation program that bases results on actual measurement of clinical performance (HEDIS® measures) and consumer experience (CAHPS® measures).
