Kaiser Permanente is the highest-rated private health insurance plan in Colorado and one of the top health plans in the nation when it comes to quality and member satisfaction, according to a new ranking by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

Kaiser Permanente Colorado ranks No. 9 in the U.S. among all private health plans. This is the first time a Colorado plan has achieved a top ten ranking out of more than 300 health plans across the country.

The rankings are based on data collected, analyzed and converted to scores by the NCQA. The three reporting categories include consumer satisfaction, prevention and treatment.

"Our physicians, nurses and staff at Kaiser Permanente work together with our patients to provide exceptional care using an advanced system of electronic medical records. Year after year this is demonstrated, as we receive some of the highest quality scores in the U.S.," said Michael Chase, MD, associate medical director of Quality for Kaiser Permanente Colorado. "Ultimately the recognition as the top plan in Colorado and one of the best in the entire nation is all about our patients getting the care they need and deserve."

Kaiser Permanente serves more than 500,000 members in Colorado and these rankings reflect that a coordinated approach to delivering care, supported by an extensive system of electronic medical records has great benefits for patients. Kaiser Permanente excels in the treatment of chronic illness like heart disease, diabetes, and asthma. It also stands out in prevention, including immunizations and early detection of cancer.

"The doctors at Kaiser Permanente were working in concert on the plan to get me cured. I knew that nothing could possibly slip through the cracks," said Kaiser Permanente member, Margarita Vacanti, of her recent battle with breast cancer. "I cannot imagine having to go through this experience without the support of Kaiser Permanente."

The rankings spotlight these additional benefits of quality health care:

-- More than 200,000 Kaiser Permanente Colorado members are using secure electronic tools to e-mail their doctor, check test results and access their medical history online.

-- 78 percent of Kaiser Permanente Colorado patients have their blood pressure under control, compared with 47 percent nationwide (CDC).

-- Kaiser Permanente Colorado heart attack patients have a 76 percent reduced risk of dying within 10 years of their attack, compared to other heart attack patients.

-- 75 percent of Kaiser Permanente patients are screened for colon cancer compared to 50 percent nationwide (CDC).

-- The ability to quickly access primary care physicians has led to improved patient outcomes, including reduced hospitalizations and ER admissions.

As further evidence of the quality care delivered to patients, earlier this year, Kaiser Permanente Colorado received NCQA's official Patient Centered Medical Home designation. Nearly 300 primary care physicians and 16 medical offices earned the top-level recognition, making Kaiser Permanente Colorado one of the largest medical providers in the nation to receive the designation.

Source: Kaiser Permanente