CMS Unveils Quality Ratings for Medicare Advantage Plans
On Wednesday, CMS released its 2012 Medicare Star Quality Ratings, which rates Medicare Advantage plans based on 36 measures. Kaiser Permanente operates four of the nine MA plans that received five-star ratings. Top-scoring plans can enroll new members at any time, instead of just during the open enrollment period, which runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. Meanwhile, a recent Kaiser Permanente survey found that just 18% of Medicare beneficiaries are aware of the star ratings and just 2% know their current plan's rating.
- "Bonuses Tied to Medicare's Star System Reward Insurers" (Japsen, "Prescriptions," New York Times, 10/12).
- "Survey: Medicare Patients Clueless About Health Plan Ratings" (Pecquet, "Healthwatch," The Hill, 10/12).
- "Medicare Plans See Dollars in the Stars" (Weaver, Kaiser Health News, 10/11).