Although the process is voluntary for health plans, external accreditation is becoming more and more...

Is voluntary for health plans.

Requires all change accreditation organizations to use the same standards of accreditation.

Typically requires the accrediting organization to conduct a medical record review and a review of a health plan's credentialing processes, but not an evaluation of the health plans' member service systems processes.

Cannot assure that a health plan meets a specified level of quality.