American Specialty Health Awarded URAC Accreditation for HIPAA Privacy, Claims Processing

American Specialty Health Inc., a complementary health care benefits organization, announced that it is one of the first companies to receive URAC HIPAA Privacy Accreditation and Claims Processing Accreditation.

URAC’s HIPAA Privacy Accreditation is the first accreditation program created specifically for HIPAA Covered Entities and Business Associates. It is awarded to companies who demonstrate a commitment to fair information practices and have taken the necessary steps to protect health information privacy. American Specialty Health is one of the first six organizations to receive this impressive distinction.

In January 2003, American Specialty Health became the third company in the nation to receive URAC’s Claims Processing Accreditation. This is one of URAC’s newest accreditation programs and is designed to improve operations, protect consumers and providers, and reduce risks and costs for health care organizations.

In addition to these latest accreditations, American Specialty Health’s subsidiary ASH Networks Inc. has earned accreditation for its chiropractic and acupuncture programs in each of the following five URAC programs: Health Utilization Management, Health Plan, Health Network with Credentialing, Workers’ Compensation Utilization Management and Workers’ Compensation Network. ASH Networks has also earned URAC accreditation for its massage therapy, dietetics and naturopathy programs. In 2002, American Specialty Health was awarded URAC Health Web Site Accreditation for healthyroads.com, ASHplans.com and ASHnetworks.com for quality and accountability in online health information.