Current Multicultural Healthcare Customers
Health Equity Accreditation and Health Equity Accreditation Plus are built upon the foundations of Multicultural Healthcare with additional standards that reinforce a focus on health equity and SDOH.
To better align with the intent of updates, Distinction in Multicultural Health Care will become Health Equity Accreditation, with an optional evaluation option that will carry a status modifier of ‘Plus’. Organizations that complete the optional evaluation option will carry the status of Health Equity Accreditation Plus.
The change from Distinction to Accreditation more accurately reflects the continuous quality improvement necessary to advance health equity and symbolizes the importance for all organizations to work toward a more equitable health care system.
Many organizations are eligible for this Accreditation: health plans, health systems, hospitals, managed behavioral healthcare organizations, population health organizations, wellness organizations and more.
Current Multicultural Healthcare Distinction Organization Transition Options
NCQA wants to make the transition to Health Equity Accreditation simple for current Multicultural Healthcare Distinction organizations.
Current Multicultural Healthcare Customer Transition Plan
Organizations can add “Plus” at time of Health Equity Accreditation Survey or transition survey.
| Options | Multicultural Healthcare Status Expires Prior to July 1, 2022 | Multicultural Healthcare Status Expires After July 1, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Option 1 | Multicultural Healthcare 1 Year Buy-Up Status: Multicultural Healthcare Distinction until 1 year after original expiration. | Multicultural Healthcare 1 Year Buy-Up Status: Multicultural Healthcare Distinction until 1 year after original expiration. |
| Option 2 | Renew Multicultural Healthcare 2021 Status: 2-year Multicultural Healthcare Distinction Organizations can then choose from all options available for statuses expiring after July 1, 2022. | Renew into Health Equity Accreditation Status: 3-year Health Equity Accreditation. |
| Option 3 | Health Equity Transition Survey Status after Transition Survey: Multicultural Healthcare Distinction and Health Equity Accreditation until 1 year after original Multicultural Healthcare expiration. |
Launch and Public Comment Timeline
| Health Equity Accreditation | “Plus” Voluntary Evaluation Option | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activity | Date | Activity | Date | ||
| Public Comment on New Standards | June 16- July 23, 2021 | Public Comment on Evaluation Option Standards | Fall 2021 | ||
| Standards Publication and Application Released | September 2021 | Standards Publication and Application Released | March 2022 | ||
| IRT Tool Released | March 2022 | IRT Tool Released | March 2022 | ||
| Surveys Begin | July 1, 2022 | Surveys Begin | July 1, 2022 | ||
Health Equity Resources
Education
NCQA Distinction in Multicultural Health Care
- The Multicultural Health Care Distinction exemplifies care delivery excellence for by validating care delivery processes and interventions that are sensitive to the racial, cultural and linguistic difference of patient populations.