After an extensive evaluation process, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island has remained one of the highest-rated health plans in the nation for the 16th consecutive year, according to the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).  

NCQA awards the status of “Excellent” to health plans that consistently “meet or exceed rigorous requirements for consumer protection and quality improvement.” Neighborhood’s Medicaid plans have earned the rank of ‘Excellent’ since 2001, and this year the company is one of only 11 such health plans nationwide to earn that status.

“Earning an ‘Excellent’ is no easy feat,” Peter Marino, Neighborhood’s President and CEO said in a statement. “This designation reflects the amazing dedication everyone in this organization has when it comes to treating our members with dignity and respect – as well as connecting them to high-quality, affordable health care. It also reflects the high quality of care delivered by our outstanding network of primary care doctors, specialists, hospitals, and Community Health Centers statewide.”

Neighborhood’s accreditation is a reflection of its commitment to its members. Part of the NCQA’s comprehensive evaluation includes review of Neighborhood’s survey scores on this year’s CAHPS (Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) and HEDIS (Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set) surveys. Neighborhood scored in the highest possible range for both HEDIS and CAHPS, earning an “A” in CAHPS, the assessment that evaluates consumers’ satisfaction with their health plan. The CAHPS assessment also revealed that more than 97 percent of Neighborhood members would recommend Neighborhood to their friends and family.

“Our members choose Neighborhood because we recognize that healthcare is personal,” Marino added, “Our employees are dedicated to making our members feel safe, cared for, and valued, especially when it comes to making difficult healthcare choices.”

For the second year in a row, Neighborhood’s commercial plans also earned high marks. NCQA awarded Neighborhood’s plans sold on the state’s exchange the “Accredited” designation, which is the highest possible status for commercial plans.

“Neighborhood understands how chaotic and confusing health care can feel these days, and that’s why we make it a priority to stay focused on our members,” Marino continued. “Our goal is to make our members’ entire health care experience easier – from shopping for a plan to visiting a doctor. We are proud to have once again earned NCQA’s highest levels of accreditation, and know that it’s our job going forward to continue to strive for excellence.”