AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program

The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living encourages member nursing centers and assisted living facilities to participate in this distinctive awards program built on the principles of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Health Care Criteria. If you have any questions about the National Quality Awards program, please contact Koko Okano of FHCA. For technical questions, such as obtaining username and password, obtaining or questions about past applications submitted from your center and online submission help, please contact the AHCA Quality Award Team. *The application status and application history is strictly confidential between your center and AHCA/NCAL.

FHCA members are committed to these awards, as proven by the significant number of each award level earned to date. For the list of active recipients, click here.

2023 Application Information

Renewal Policy

In 2014, AHCA/NCAL introduced a new renewal policy that affect all the current and past recipients. Under this policy, Bronze and Silver Quality Award recipients have two options to choose from to maintain “active” recipient status. Option 1 is to apply for the next award level within the following 3 years. With this option, the applicants are not required to receive the award to renew the active status for another 3 years. Option 2 is to reapply for the same level. With this option, however, the applicant must receive the award to renew the active status for another 3 years. For example, a 2020 Silver recipient must submit (option 1) a Gold application by 2023 award cycle and may or may not receive the Gold Award, or (option 2) another Silver application by 2023 award cycle and receive the Silver Award to renew its current status until 2026 award cycle.

Quality Award Applicant Resources

FHCA provides hands-on workshops across the state for centers pursuing the AHCA/NCAL Bronze, Silver and Gold National Quality Awards. These intensive workshops are led by FHCA's Koko Okano, an AHCA/NCAL Quality Award Master Examiner and an examiner of the National Baldrige Program. FHCA suggests centers consider sending any team members working on the centers' Quality Award application/criteria to these workshops, which can result in a better application, greater understanding of the foundational elements of quality in your center, and enhanced excitement as your center engages in the program. Learn more here.

AHCA/NCAL Applicant Resources for Bronze, Silver, and Gold applicants: Click here.

*AHCA/NCAL now allows nursing centers that are not members of FHCA to participate in the National Quality Award Program. National Silver and Gold Quality Award recipients will receive 5 points for the Quality Add-on under the Prospective Payment System.

Quality Award Recipient Resources

AHCA/NCAL offers recipient resources by award level, such as logos, planning guides and template press releases. Recipients also may purchase customized Quality Award banners with center names, label pins, and customized polo shirts.