Which statement is true about PCMH accreditation?

• A. Accreditation is optional and not related to quality metrics
• B. Accreditation does not exist for PCMH
• C. Certification is unrelated to patient access
• D. PCMH accreditation is achieved through a formal accreditation or certification process

Answer: (D)

PCMH accreditation comes through a formal recognition or certification process by an accredited body (such as NCQA or Joint Commission). These programs evaluate whether a practice meets defined standards across areas like access to care, comprehensive and coordinated care, patient engagement, and continuous quality improvement. Practices gather documentation, may undergo on-site reviews or data verification, and must demonstrate consistent performance to earn accreditation or certification. This formal process ensures that a practice truly aligns with PCMH principles rather than merely claiming to be PCMH. The ideas that accreditation is optional or nonexistent or that certification is unrelated to patient access don’t fit with how PCMH accreditation works, since the standards explicitly include access and other patient-centered domains, and there is a formal pathway to recognition.