WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), which represents more than 15,000 long term and post-acute care providers across the country, today announced the 2026 Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award recipients. The National Quality Award Program recognizes organizations that meet progressively rigorous standards of quality to improve the lives of their residents. This year marks the highest number of Bronze recipients in the program’s history, with 713 skilled nursing facilities (SNF), 150 assisted living (AL) communities, 25 combined SNF/AL providers, four intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (ID/DD), and one residential care facility for ID/DD in all 50 states and the District of Columbia earning the Bronze Award.
“Congratulations to this year’s Bronze Quality Award recipients for commencing their quality journey,” said Clif Porter, president and CEO of AHCA/NCAL. “These providers are demonstrating a strong commitment to delivering quality care and improving the lives of residents every day. We are proud to recognize hundreds of providers for their dedication to excellence and look forward to seeing their continued success.”
The AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program has three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Providers begin the quality improvement process at the Bronze level, where they assess their mission, vision, and other key factors that drive success. An esteemed group of trained examiners reviews each application to determine if the organization has met the demands of the award criteria, which is based on the nationally recognized Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework. After achieving the Bronze Award, recipients can pursue the Silver Award.
“Quality care starts with a commitment to continuous improvement, and this year’s Bronze Award recipients are embracing that challenge,” said LaShuan Bethea, executive director of NCAL. “Assisted living communities across the country are empowering their teams and creating better experiences for the residents and families they serve. We are proud to celebrate this important milestone in their quality journey.”
This year, the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program proudly celebrates its 30th anniversary. Since its establishment in 1996, more than 8,000 providers across the country have participated in the rigorous program to strengthen their operations, improve outcomes, and enhance the lives of residents and staff. This milestone anniversary highlights the program’s lasting impact on advancing quality care throughout the long term care profession.
A full list of the 2026 Bronze recipients is available on the AHCA/NCAL Quality Award website. The association will announce the recipients of this year’s Silver Award in July and the Gold Award recipients in August.
The 2026 National Quality Award Program is supported by AHCA/NCAL Associate Business Members: McKesson, Prevail by First Quality, Incite Workforce Solutions Powered by SnapCare, and HealthCap.