ODS Secures Big Win with NCQA

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov 13, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is front and center in the current ferment keeping healthcare quality at the top of the national agenda. Its seal is nationally recognized as the premier symbol of quality care and service.

That's why figurative champagne corks were popping at the ODS Tower in downtown Portland when the health insurer learned that NCQA awarded its Commercial Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) the highly coveted Accreditation of Commendable, a status awarded to health plans with well-established programs for service and clinical quality that meet rigorous requirements for consumer protection and quality improvement.

Dr. Csaba Mera, ODS Medical Director, knows exactly why ODS was in the front rank of medical insurers in Oregon. "This new award is based on significant improvements in our performance," he said. "These improvements included clinical effectiveness measures, as well as member satisfaction rates. Both HEDIS and CAHPS scores were key to this analysis." And Robert Gootee, President & CEO of ODS, understands precisely what this award means to Oregonians. "This reaffirms, in an independent and measured way, what so many Oregonians have known for so long: that ODS, is today, a terrific place to buy health insurance." ODS routinely meets a rigorous set of more than 60 standards, and reports on its performance in more than 40 areas, in order to maintain NCQA's seal of approval.

"We strongly believe in the NCQA Accreditation process," said Gootee. "We know it's helping us serve our members better than ever before. And, we are proud to have earned this Commendable seal of approval." About ODS ODS is a multifaceted organization that provides medical, pharmacy, dental, vision and professional liability insurance products, along with a variety of business services including benefits administration. ODS serves more than 1 million members. Founded in 1955, ODS is Oregon's leading dental plan and one of the state's leading medical plans. ODS is a founding member of the Delta Dental Plans Association, the nation's largest and most experienced dental benefits provider. ODS is headquartered in Portland and has offices in Medford, Ore., Milwaukie, Ore., Bend, Ore., and La Grande, Ore., as well as in Bothell, Wash., and Anchorage, Alaska. For more information, visit www.odscompanies.com.

SOURCE: ODS CONTACT: ODS Jonathan Nicholas Vice President 503-219-3673 [e-mail] Copyright Business Wire 2009 -0- KEYWORD: United States

North America

Oregon INDUSTRY KEYWORD: Professional Services

Insurance SUBJECT CODE: Award