New independent accreditation board requires ministries to meet exacting standards to obtain accreditation
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Reputable Health Care Sharing Ministries will now have a very public way to demonstrate their integrity and credibility in offering a meaningful solution for families looking to manage their health care costs. A newly launched Health Care Sharing Accreditation Board is now receiving applications from Health Care Sharing Ministries. Members and people exploring Health Care Sharing Ministries will soon be able to verify that a ministry is accredited to determine if it meets the rigorous standards set forth by the Board. Accreditation must be renewed annually.
Katy Talento, the executive director of the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries (Alliance, ahcsm.org), said accreditation will increase the appeal of Health Care Sharing Ministries.
“We know that health care costs continue to devour family budgets that are already struggling under astronomical inflation and a looming recession,” Talento said. “Accreditation of Health Care Sharing Ministries will provide additional reassurance about the integrity and credibility of Health Care Sharing Ministries as a viable option for families looking to manage health care costs in a way that is consistent with their budget and beliefs.”
The new accreditation organization, independent of the Alliance, evaluates Health Care Sharing Ministries on a number of standards in the following categories:
- Legal structure and governance
- Organizational management and compensation
- Conflicts of interest and related party transactions
- External communications and marketing
- Enrollment processes
- Written acknowledgements from members
- Published sharing guidelines
- Financial sharing processes, including processing time, dispute resolution and appeals, total amounts shared and not shared among members, etc.
- Expense ratio
- Membership contribution guidelines and management processes
- Audited financial statements and IRS Form 990
Talento also claims that the strength of accreditation is in the gravitas of the Board’s members.
“When a Health Care Sharing Ministry has met these standards, current and prospective members can rest assured that a ministry has been vetted by the most knowledgeable experts,” stated Talento. “Going forward, the Alliance will only be governed by Health Care Sharing Ministries that commit to becoming accredited.”
The members of the independent Health Care Sharing Accreditation Board include:
Diane Black, Former Congresswoman from Tennessee
James Lansberry, Former EVP, Samaritan Ministries
Dave Cram, CPA, specialist in religious non-profit activities
Josh Heidelman, Castaneda + Heidelman, LLP, an attorney experienced in non-profit law
Mary Mayhew, President and CEO, Florida Hospital Association
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries is a 501(c)(6) trade organization representing the common interests of Health Care Sharing Ministry organizations which are facilitating the sharing of health care needs (financial, emotional, and spiritual) by individuals and families, and their participants. The Alliance engages with federal and state regulators, members of the media, and the Christian community to provide accurate and timely information on Health Care Sharing Ministries.
To learn more about the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries, visit www.ahcsm.org or follow the ministry on Facebook or Twitter.
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To interview a representative from The Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Harrison, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Deborah Hamilton, ext. 102.
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