URAC has launched its enhanced Case Management Accreditation Standards and Measures, with an optional Transitions of Care Designation. URAC’s Case Management Accreditation program allows for the application of case management standards across all care settings, helping organizations demonstrate outcomes-based, patient-centered, high-value quality care.

“Case Management Accreditation provides an essential set of standards and performance measures that all applicant organizations must meet,” said Kylanne Green, URAC president and chief executive officer. “Aligning with health reform goals and emerging industry best practices, we have updated our Case Management Accreditation standards to address the increasing demand for excellence in care coordination.”

The revised standards:

• Require organizations to clearly define their role regarding transitions of care, promoting better coordinated care for consumers.
• Emphasize the development of evidence-based, individualized consumer-centric goals that promote quality healthcare outcomes.
• Ensure consumers experience safe and effective transitions of care across settings—an essential part of preventing poor outcomes.
• Underscore the importance of information support systems to achieve and measure case management performance goals.
• Foster consumer education and engagement to achieve self-management goals and optimal levels of wellness.

Ensuring safe and effective transitions of care across settings is essential to optimizing health care outcomes. The additional standards required for the optional Transitions of Care Designation build upon the foundational care standards are included in the Case Management accreditation standards. This designation gives credit to those organizations offering services to handle the transition of care as it occurs, including the timely transfer of information between parties critical to the transfer.

The Case Management Accreditation program performance measures have been updated and expanded to include public domain measures focusing on health outcomes and care transitions. These measures are considered an essential component of an organization’s quality management program.