{"id":35608,"date":"2026-09-10T09:02:17","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T14:02:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/countycare.com\/?post_type=press-release&p=35608"},"modified":"2026-09-10T09:08:50","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T14:08:50","slug":"countycare-earns-first-ever-ncqa-health-equity-accreditation","status":"publish","type":"press-release","link":"https:\/\/countycare.com\/es\/press-release\/countycare-earns-first-ever-ncqa-health-equity-accreditation\/","title":{"rendered":"CountyCare Earns First-Ever NCQA Health Equity Accreditation"},"content":{"rendered":"

CountyCare was recently awarded its first-ever National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)<\/a> Health Equity Accreditation, earning a perfect score on the review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In its evaluation, NCQA highlighted CountyCare\u2019s commitment to providing care in members\u2019 preferred language, responding to their needs in a timely manner and addressing existing healthcare disparities. The plan was also lauded for its dedicated and knowledgeable staff and its ongoing initiatives to further reduce health inequities across Cook County.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith more than 1.5 million Cook County residents enrolled in Medicaid, advancing health equity must remain a priority for our community,\u201d said Toni Preckwinkle, president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. \u201cEvery resident deserves access to high-quality, affordable health care, regardless of who they are, where they live or the circumstances in which they were raised. CountyCare continues to play an important role in expanding access to care and improving health outcomes for its members and for communities across Cook County. We are grateful for their continued commitment to that work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recognized as the industry standard, NCQA awards accreditation to health insurance plans that meet or exceed its rigorous, evidence-based standards. To earn Health Equity Accreditation, health plans must demonstrate an understanding of their population\u2019s specific needs and an ability to identify and address any barriers to access. They must also commit to continuous monitoring of their progress in these categories, employing measures uniquely tailored to each organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CountyCare is the largest Medicaid managed care plan in Cook County. It is owned and operated by Cook County Health (CCH), one of the nation\u2019s leading public health systems, which serves all patients regardless of ability to pay.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHealthcare doesn\u2019t begin and end at the doctor\u2019s office,\u201d said Dr. Erik Mikaitis, CCH\u2019s chief executive officer. \u201cWhether it\u2019s connecting members to good-quality food or safe and reliable housing, CountyCare strives to not only meet its members\u2019 health needs but understand them from every possible angle. Its person-centric, community-based initiatives are a shining example of CCH\u2019s mission to enable all individuals to live their healthiest lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ahead of upcoming changes to Medicaid eligibility, CountyCare has amplified its presence in the community to provide education and in-person support with enrollment and renewal. Over the past year, it has hosted nearly 250 redetermination events and assisted more than 12,000 people in applying for or renewing their Medicaid coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe most important thing we can do as a Medicaid plan is meet our members where they are,\u201d said Aaron Galeener, chief administrative officer for CountyCare. \u201cAs our complex healthcare environment continues to evolve, CountyCare ensures that our members will not have to navigate it on their own. I\u2019m proud that our team reflects that commitment in their daily work and continually goes the extra mile for the communities we serve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NCQA also granted CountyCare its three-year overall Health Plan Accreditation, including its first-ever Long-Term Services and Supports distinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CountyCare provides comprehensive medical coverage and a wide range of benefits like no-cost prescriptions, resources for expecting parents and transportation assistance for medical appointments. It serves individuals enrolled in Opci\u00f3n de Salud Illinois<\/a>, the state\u2019s Medicaid managed care program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more about NCQA accreditation, click aqu\u00ed<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"template":"","press-release-categories":[],"class_list":["post-35608","press-release","type-press-release","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/countycare.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/35608","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/countycare.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/countycare.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press-release"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/countycare.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35608"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"press-release-categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/countycare.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release-categories?post=35608"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}