Adena Health, a hospital system in Chillicothe, Ohio, recently received notice that it does not meet the standards required for accreditation by a top healthcare organization. The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has denied Adena Health’s accreditation in credentialing, making it one of only three hospitals in the country to have been denied this type of credentialing according to NCQA’s website.
Accreditation is awarded to organizations that meet or exceed specific standards, while a denial indicates that the organization did not meet these requirements. In order to achieve accreditation, organizations must comply with a set of requirements that include best practices and the delivery of high-quality care. NCQA evaluates clinicians and practices that use teamwork and technology to provide coordinated and patient-centered primary care through their credentialing program.
Despite the denial of accreditation by NCQA, Adena Health has appealed the decision and maintains that their credentialing standards remain confident. The hospital system has faced scrutiny and legal challenges in the past due to allegations of knowingly submitting false and fraudulent claims for payment to Medicaid and other government reimbursement programs. Additionally, there have been allegations that some of Adena’s cardiologists performed heart valve procedures without the proper credentials in 2022, which Adena has denied.
Despite these challenges, Adena Health remains committed to meeting changing requirements and ensuring high standards of care. The hospital system continues to work towards achieving accreditation through NCQA’s program and maintaining transparency with patients and stakeholders about their progress towards this goal.
