October 12, 2005

A recent nationwide survey ranked 14 Michigan-based health plans as top performers, state officials said today.

“These rankings clearly illustrate that we are committed to ensuring that health plans across the state continue to provide high quality health care services for our most vulnerable citizens,” said Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and U.S. News & World Report collaborate annually to rank the nation’s health plans. The rankings, unveiled in an in-depth U.S. News feature which appeared on newsstands October 3, 2005, placed 14 Michigan health plans in the top 60 nationwide, said Janet Olszewski, Director of the Michigan Department of Community Health.

Hundreds of commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid health plans were ranked, with detailed information about their performance in selected areas. The rankings were compiled from data collected and analyzed by NCQA, managed care's major accrediting body.

“High performance in key clinical and consumer satisfaction areas are the hallmark of health plans statewide,” Olszewski said. “Our 16 Medicaid health plans here in Michigan should be proud of the work they do every day to improve patient care.”

The state of Michigan contracts with 16 Medicaid Health plans to provide care and service for more than 900,000 Medicaid recipients. A total of 14 Michigan health plans were represented in the top rankings of all Medicaid health plans across the country, including:

· Great Lakes Health Plan

· Health Plan of Michigan

· Health Plus of Michigan

· M-CAID

· McLaren Health Plan

· Midwest Health Plan

· Molina Healthcare of Michigan

· Physicians Health Plan FamilyCare

· Physicians Health Plan of Southwest Michigan

· OmniCare Health Plan

· Priority Health Government Programs

· Upper Peninsula Health Plan

· Cape Health Plan

· Total Health Care

Additionally, Health Plus of Michigan was represented in the top rankings for all three product lines: commercial, Medicaid, and Medicare.

"This unprecedented national recognition further emphasizes our long-standing support of transparency and accountability in all sectors of health care,” said Richard Murdock, Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Health Plans. “As we continue to evolve our health care system, it is clear that accountability is part of the process to provide quality care and that this must be incorporated into every aspect of health care delivery."