Partnership HealthPlan of California has been awarded interim accreditation status by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, or NCQA.

“This accomplishment demonstrates our dedication, as a local Medi-Cal managed care plan, to ensure our members receive the highest quality care possible,” CEO Elizabeth Gibboney said following the announcement last week,

The NCQA seal is a nationally recognized symbol of quality.

Partnership HealthPlan of California, or PHC, decided to seek NCQA accreditation because of its rigorous standards and emphasis on delivery of high-quality health care.

Interim status is awarded to organizations with processes and structure in place to meet expectations for consumer protection and quality improvement.

PHC will undergo an additional review within 18 months to demonstrate it has executed those processes effectively.

NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance.

NCQA’s Web site contains information to help consumers, employers and others make more informed health care choices.

PHC is a nonprofit community-based health care organization that contracts with the state to administer Medi-Cal benefits. PHC provides quality health care to approximately 540,500 Medi-Cal members.

Beginning in Solano County in 1994, PHC now provides services to 14 Northern California counties – Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Marin, Mendocino, Modoc, Napa, Shasta, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Trinity and Yolo.