450_SLP_ M3_ Managed Care

The overall goal of the Session Long
Project is to examine health care delivery in the United States. Most of us in
the health care industry are well acquainted with the term
“accreditation.” We often hear about an upcoming inspection from Joint
Commission or CAP. What we don’t often think of is the fact that managed care
organizations also get accreditation. This is how they demonstrate their
commitment to ensuring patients receive quality care. For this assignment, you
are to research one of two agencies that accredit managed care organizations:
National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) or Accreditation Association
for Ambulatory Healthcare, Inc. Once you have researched these organizations,
please respond to the following questions.

1. Discuss the purpose of accreditation. Has the process
   of accreditation really improved the quality of care being provided to
   patients?
2. Identify and discuss the process of accreditation for
   the chosen agency.
3. Discuss some of the standards they look for when they
   go on-site. Are the standards rigorous or vague?
4. Do these agencies make the results of their surveys
   public? How could knowing this information be benefical to patients?

LENGTH: Your paper should be 3 (900 words) pages typed and double-spaced with one-inch
margins and 12-point font, and meet the exact number of pages specified in the
assignment instructions.

COVER PAGE: Copy the exact assignment onto your cover page (the actual
questions or task).

REFERENCES: Cite your references in the text of all papers and on the
reference list at the end. For examples, review the way the references are
listed in the modules and on the background reading list.

PRECISION: Each question of the assignment is specifically addressed in the
paper.

CLARITY: The paper reads clearly (i.e., it is not confusing) and is
well-structured. Subheadings are used to guide the reader.

BREADTH: The paper presents appropriate breadth covering the questions of
the assignment (multiple perspectives and references, multiple issues/factors
considered, as appropriate).

DEPTH: The paper presents points that lead to a deeper understanding of the
matters and/or issues being discussed and integrates several points into
coherent conclusions.

EVIDENCE: Statements and points are well-supported with facts or statistics,
and references.

CRITICAL THINKING: Set aside personal biases and instead approach the
subject matter using available scholarly evidence. Consider the strengths and
weaknesses of competing arguments/perspectives on this topic. Having read these
scholarly sources, make a judgment as to the merit of the arguments presented
therein.