COA Network Administration (NET) accreditation is COA's review of a Lead Management Entity: an organization that coordinates or oversees social and human services delivered by a network of contracted providers. This service is for lead agencies and management entities that hold, or are pursuing, a state contract to oversee a provider network. Integral Healthcare Solutions (IHS) builds the lead entity's network oversight and grievance procedures to the COA network standards; your network staff run the network.
Last reviewed: October 2026. COA NET standards and the Social Current COA accreditation page checked on October 2, 2026.
What is COA network administration accreditation?
The governing text is the COA Network Administration (NET) standards, published in the Administration and Management section of COA's 2026 Private Organization Standards (COA NET standards, 2026 Private Organization Standards). The standards run from NET 1 (Network Characteristics) through NET 11 (Network Training) and include NET 3 Network-Wide Planning, NET 5 Access to Network Services, NET 7 Utilization Management, NET 8 Outcomes Measurement and NET 10 Network Application Process. The NET PDF notes that core network administration practices are also reflected in the Administration and Management and Service Delivery Administration sections for private organizations, and that LMEs that also provide direct services are assigned applicable service standards.
COA states who the standards are for: "COA's Network Administration standards apply to organizations that coordinate or oversee the provision of social and human services to specific populations, referred to throughout as the Lead Management Entity (LME)" (COA NET standards, 2026 Private Organization Standards).
The review covers two things. In COA's words: "When COA accredits a network LME it is reviewing both the organization's internal operations and functioning, as well as it's management of the network as a whole and oversight of the services that are being provided by the contracted organizations" (COA NET standards, 2026 Private Organization Standards).
It does not cover the providers themselves: "COA only accredits the LME. Contracted service providers are not included in COAs network accreditation process and will not be visited during the LME site visit" (COA NET standards, 2026 Private Organization Standards).
On the term of accreditation, Social Current states: "COA Accreditation is valid for four years ... Organizations must submit an annual report to maintain the implementation of standards" (Social Current, COA Accreditation).
Who needs it and what triggers it
COA lists the network organizations it accredits: "1. Separately incorporated entities that coordinate and manage care on behalf of a group of cooperating organizations; 2. Designated lead agencies or management entities; and 3. Groups of providers organized to integrate and coordinate services" (COA NET standards, 2026 Private Organization Standards).
The usual trigger is a state contract. COA notes: "Most of COA's accredited network LMEs have contracts with a state agency, such as a state's child and family services agency, to provide such oversight, and the network LME itself is responsible to the state agency for ensuring quality services and outcomes" (COA NET standards, 2026 Private Organization Standards).
Organizations come to this work when they are forming a provider network administrator, taking on a lead agency role under a new state contract, or seeking COA accreditation for an existing network. The structural test starts at NET 1: "The network operates through a centralized entity or structure that provides for the integration and coordination of services of participating entities or community partners" (COA NET standards, 2026 Private Organization Standards).
How IHS helps
IHS works from the 2026 NET standards and the related Administration and Management standards. The process:
- Gap assessment. IHS reads the lead entity's current structure, contracts and oversight practices against the NET standards and lists what is missing.
- Questionnaires. IHS sends questionnaires on provider contracting, referrals, utilization management and provider performance to the staff who run those functions.
- Evidence crosswalk. IHS maps each NET standard to the documents and records that show it is met, and to the evidence COA asks for in self-study and the site visit.
- Drafted procedures. IHS drafts provider contracting and oversight procedures, referral accountability procedures, the provider grievance mechanism NET 2.04 describes, performance review procedures and network-wide planning documents. Your network leaders review, change and approve them.
- Mock review. IHS reviews the lead entity's documents and records the way a reviewer reading the NET standards would, and lists the gaps that remain.
- Readiness support. IHS tracks the open items through to the lead entity's own submission to COA.
What you supply: your provider contracts, provider performance data, your current oversight practices, your state agency contract and the network service experts who know how referrals and oversight work in practice.
The limit: contracted providers stay responsible for their own service delivery, and the review covers the lead entity only. IHS drafts; your organization submits to COA. The accreditation decision is COA's.
What to have ready
Each item below ties to the 2026 NET standards (COA NET standards, 2026 Private Organization Standards) unless another source is named.
- A description of the centralized entity or structure that integrates and coordinates the network's services (NET 1 Network Characteristics).
- Your contract with the state agency, since the LME "is responsible to the state agency for ensuring quality services and outcomes."
- Every current provider contract and your process for deciding whether to contract with a provider.
- Your provider grievance mechanism, which under NET 2.04 must let provider organizations and independent practitioners "express and resolve complaints and grievances," including on "decisions not to contract with providers," "the network management entity's referral practices," and "claims payments."
- Network-wide planning documents (NET 3 Network-Wide Planning).
- Access procedures, procedures for emergency and urgent care needs, triage and critical care criteria, and publicly available information on how to access network services (NET 5 Access to Network Services).
- Utilization management procedures and records (NET 7 Utilization Management).
- Network-wide outcomes data and the outcomes measurement system for the network (NET 8 Outcomes Measurement; the standard's site visit evidence points to PQI 2 and PQI 3).
- Your network application procedure (NET 10 Network Application Process) and network training records (NET 11 Network Training).
- A plan for the annual report COA requires to maintain accreditation (Social Current, COA Accreditation).
If you want help sorting these, the introductory call is the place to start.
How it compares
Lead entities weigh these routes. They are not exclusive.
| Route | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| COA accreditation with the NET standards assigned | COA reviews the LME's internal operations and its management of the network; contracted providers are not visited (COA NET standards, 2026 Private Organization Standards). Accreditation is valid for four years, with an annual report (Social Current, COA Accreditation). |
| Oversight under the state contract alone | The LME answers to the state agency for "ensuring quality services and outcomes" (COA NET standards, 2026 Private Organization Standards). Whether a contract requires accreditation is set by that contract; read its terms. |
| Health care network accreditation from other bodies, such as URAC or NCQA | Not reviewed for this page. Compare their published standards against your state contract and your population. |
| IHS gap assessment and drafting | A crosswalk, drafted network procedures and a mock review of the lead entity. It does not replace your network staff or the state's monitoring. |
What it costs
COA does not publish a fee schedule on the pages we reviewed; fees depend on scope. Social Current states: "The cost varies based on an organization's size and services" (Social Current, COA Accreditation). IHS scopes each engagement after a free introductory call.
What this is not
- IHS is not COA and does not grant, predict or influence an accreditation decision.
- IHS does not contact, submit to or speak for your organization to COA or to your state agency. IHS drafts; you submit.
- IHS does not review or accredit your contracted providers, and this is not legal advice on your state contract.
Frequently asked questions
What is COA network administration accreditation for a lead management entity?
It is COA accreditation of an organization that coordinates or oversees social and human services delivered by contracted providers, which COA calls the Lead Management Entity. COA reviews the entity's own operations and its management and oversight of the network under the NET standards.
Which organizations are assigned COA's NET standards?
COA lists three types: separately incorporated entities that coordinate and manage care for a group of cooperating organizations, designated lead agencies or management entities, and groups of providers organized to integrate and coordinate services. COA notes that most accredited network LMEs hold a contract with a state agency.
Does COA accreditation of a lead agency cover our contracted providers?
No. COA states that it only accredits the LME, that contracted providers are not included in the network accreditation process, and that they will not be visited during the LME site visit. Each provider stays responsible for its own delivery.
What does COA review in network oversight?
The NET standards run from NET 1 Network Characteristics to NET 11 Network Training. They include network-wide planning, access to network services, utilization management, outcomes measurement and the network application process.
What grievance process must a lead entity offer to network providers?
NET 2.04 calls for a formal mechanism through which provider organizations and independent practitioners can express and resolve complaints and grievances. COA names decisions not to contract with providers, the entity's referral practices and claims payments among the subjects it must cover.
Our state contract requires the lead agency to be accredited. Which COA standards apply to us?
The NET PDF notes that core network administration practices are also reflected in the Administration and Management and Service Delivery Administration sections for private organizations, and that LMEs that also provide direct services are assigned applicable service standards. The state contract sets whether accreditation is required and by when, so read its terms alongside the NET text.
How long does COA accreditation take for a network lead entity?
COA does not publish a separate timeline for network LMEs on the pages we reviewed. Social Current states that COA accreditation is valid for four years and that organizations submit an annual report to maintain it.
How much does COA network accreditation cost?
COA does not publish a fee schedule on the pages we reviewed. Social Current states that the cost varies based on an organization's size and services. IHS scopes its own work after a free introductory call.
What does IHS draft for a lead entity?
IHS drafts provider contracting and oversight procedures, referral accountability procedures, the provider grievance mechanism, performance review procedures and network-wide planning documents. Your network leaders approve them, and your organization submits its own materials to COA.