States & Insurers With Health & Human Services Center Of Excellence Programs: An OPEN MINDS Reference Guide
A health care center of excellence (COE) is facility or program recognized for providing the highest possible quality of service. COEs typically include any combination of three missions – service provision, education/teaching, and research. However, there is not one clear universal definition for the term. Provider organizations apply the COE label to their organizations for a multitude of different reasons: some use it in marketing as a promotional term, some need it as a qualification to receive funding or participate in a specific reimbursement model, and some use it to indicate participation in a specific program. “COE status” can be conferred on a provider organization by different types of organizations.
Generally, there are three specific paths to achieving COE status—participation in a state-funded COE, participation in a health plan-funded COE, or undergoing a certification or accreditation process from a third-party organization. This report explores states with COE programs, including those funded by Medicaid and COE programs offered by major health insurers.