Quality Improvement
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. 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.
2027 Application Information
Click here to submit your application.
If you need help with navigating the Portal, tap here. Contact AHCA/NCAL at qualityaward@ahca.org with any questions.
All deadlines are 8:00 p.m. EST
2027 Bronze, Silver, and Gold application packets and resources are available. Click here for resources. Save these dates!
- August 2026: Quality Award Portal Opens
- November 12, 2026 (8:00 p.m. EST): ITA deadline
- January 21, 2027 (8:00 p.m. EST): Application deadline
Renewal Policy
When an applicant becomes an award recipient, the terms and conditions of the Renewal Policy must be met in order to maintain active recipient status. Active recipients are considered to be performing at a level appropriate to their award designation and maintain continuous quality improvement within their organization. The requirements to be an active recipient for Bronze, Silver and Gold status, along with FAQs, can be found here. Centers are encouraged to review the requirements before beginning the application process.
Quality Award Applicant Resources
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.