Resource Links

Please Note: Optimetra assumes no liability or responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided by the agencies listed on this page.


Federal Healthcare Resources

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
"...is the United States government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. "

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Responsible for oversight of the Medicare, Medicaid, and Child Health federal insurance programs.

TRICARE Management Activity (formerly OCHAMPUS)
Responsible for oversight of the TRICARE health care program for military dependents and retirees. (The program itself is administered by private contractors who hold Managed Care Support (MCS) contracts through the TRICARE Management Activity.)

Health Reform Web Site
Get the latest updates on health reform, implementation on a national and state level, and relevant facts and statistics related to health reform at www.healthreform.gov.



Industry Organizations

America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)
AHIP is the national association representing nearly 1,300 member companies providing health insurance coverage to more than 200 million Americans.

National Association of State Medicaid Directors (NASMD)
The National Association of State Medicaid Directors (NASMD) is a bipartisan, professional, nonprofit organization of representatives of state Medicaid agencies (including the District of Columbia and the territories). The primary purposes of NASMD are: to serve as a focal point of communication between the states and the federal government, and to provide an information network among the states on issues pertinent to the Medicaid program.

Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
HIMSS is the healthcare industry's membership organization exclusively focused on providing leadership for the optimal use of healthcare information technology and management systems for the betterment of human health.

National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
Association of state regulators, promoting uniformity of regulation where regulation is appropriate, and providing other services related to state insurance regulation.

National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)
Performs assessment and reporting on the quality of managed health care plans, enabling organizations and individuals to make informed health care purchasing decisions.

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
"The mission of the Joint Commission is to improve the quality of health care for the public by providing accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in health care organizations."

Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA)
Advocate association for free-enterprise healthcare system. Provides educational programs on health insurance and many other services.

URAC
URAC is an independent, nonprofit organization and is a well-known leader in promoting health care quality through its accreditation and certification programs. URAC offers a wide range of quality benchmarking programs and services that keep pace with the rapid changes in the health care system, and provide a symbol of excellence for organizations to validate their commitment to quality and accountability.

Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
AAAHC is a private, non-profit organization formed in 1979 to assist ambulatory health care organizations in improving the quality of care provided to patients. It accomplishes this by setting standards, measuring performance and providing consultation and education where needed.