Research & Marketing Strategies (RMS) is your source for all of your NCQA and PCMH questions.  As part of our ongoing series of healthcare blog posts to educate our readers on new healthcare initiatives, today I took some time to conduct a short e-interview with Susan Maxsween, our Healthcare Transformation Manager at RMS.  Here is the Q&A:

• What is NCQA Recognition? [Susan] NCQA Recognition acknowledges clinicians that are committed to enhancing the quality of patient care, using such criteria as evidence-based measures and systematic, patient-centered coordinated care and management processes.   
• How does NCQA Recognition differ from NCQA Accreditation? [Susan] NCQA Recognition acknowledges physicians for delivery of well-integrated high quality care, while NCQA Accreditation enables health plans to distinguish themselves in a highly competitive market by demonstrating  their commitment to improving the quality of their healthcare – and the quality of life for their members.  NCQA Accreditation is a rigorous, comprehensive and transparent evaluation process through which the quality of the system, processes and results that define a health plan are assessed – including the care and service that plans deliver in important areas such as diabetes, childhood immunizations and mammograms. 
• How does PPC-PCMH tie into NCQA Certification, Accreditation and Recognition? [Susan] Physician Practice Connections – Patient Centered Medical Home was developed in collaboration with the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Osteopathic Association and others.  This Recognition is built on the joint principles developed by primary care specialty organizations, and emphasizes the use of systematic, patient-centered coordinated care and management processes.