Talk:URAC

Request to update the URAC article

I work for CURA Strategies, URAC's public relations agency, and have disclosed this paid relationship on my user page and this Talk page.

I am requesting that the current URAC article be replaced with the proposed draft below. The language and sources have been reviewed and approved by URAC. Because of my conflict of interest, I have not edited the live article directly and am requesting review by an independent Wikipedia editor.

Proposed replacement text:

URAC is a nonprofit health care accreditation organization based in Washington, D.C. URAC develops accreditation standards and certification programs for organizations across the U.S. health care system. These organizations include health plans, specialty pharmacies, telehealth providers and independent review organizations.

URAC is one of several national health care accrediting bodies in the United States, alongside organizations such as the National Committee for Quality Assurance, The Joint Commission and the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care. Health care organizations use URAC accreditation to demonstrate compliance with quality, safety and operational standards, and some state regulators and payers recognize it as part of licensing or contracting requirements.

History

URAC was founded in 1990 as the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission. Its founding occurred during a period of rapid growth in managed care. The organization provides standardized, independent oversight of utilization review practices.

During the 1990s and 2000s, URAC expanded beyond utilization review to develop accreditation programs for other areas of health care, including pharmacy services, health plans and independent review organizations.

In later years, URAC introduced accreditation programs addressing newer areas of care delivery, including telehealth, community health workers, mental health at work and health care artificial intelligence.

URAC received a Modern Healthcare Best in Business Award in 2025.

Role in the U.S. health care system

Health care organizations use URAC accreditation as one method of demonstrating compliance with quality and operational standards. Some state regulatory agencies, health plans and other health care purchasers recognize URAC accreditation, depending on the specific program. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recognizes URAC as one of three accrediting entities for Qualified Health Plans. In 2025, CMS renewed URAC's Medicare Advantage deeming authority for health maintenance organizations and local preferred provider organizations for a six-year term, applicable from July 10, 2025, through July 10, 2031.

Leadership

Shawn Griffin, MD, FAAFP, has served as president and chief executive officer of URAC since 2019 and is the first physician to lead the organization. Griffin is a board-certified family physician whose work at URAC has focused on health care quality, patient safety, accountability, accreditation and standards development.

In 2024 and 2025, Griffin was included on Modern Healthcare's list of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare. In 2026, Washingtonian included him on its list of Washington, D.C.'s 500 most influential people.

References

Please let me know if any additional information or changes are needed. Thank you. Hsm2001 (talk) 18:04, 1 September 2026 (UTC)