Adena Health Fails to Meet Standards of Major Healthcare Accreditation Groups

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (WCMH) — A Chillicothe hospital system that has been the subject of multiple NBC4 Investigates reports has been notified that it does not meet the standards of a leading healthcare accreditation organization.

The National Committee on Quality Assurance has denied Adena Health accreditation for credentialing. NCQA is a nonprofit organization that bills itself as one of the leading health care accreditation organizations.

The NCQA website shows that only three other hospitals in the country have been denied this type of accreditation. According to the site, accreditation means the organization meets or exceeds standards. A denial means it does not meet them.

To meet the standards, an organization must meet a list of requirements, including best practices and high-quality care. The NCQA says that for the accreditation program, “it evaluates clinicians and practices that use teamwork and technology to provide coordinated, patient-centered primary care.”

According to NCQA, Adena has appealed the decision. In a statement to NBC4, an Adena spokesperson wrote, “Adena Health has a long and positive history and relationship with NCQA. As payer requirements evolve, we continue to work with the organization to address these changing requirements. This work does not impact our ability to issue accreditations, and we remain confident in our accreditation standards.”

As NBC4 previously reported, Adena is also being sued in federal court. An unsealed court filing alleges that Adena knowingly submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicaid and other government reimbursement programs totaling millions of dollars.

NBC4 also reported allegations that some of its cardiologists performed heart valve surgeries in 2022 without proper qualifications. Adena vehemently denied the allegations to NBC4.