2023 Outlook: Plans Prepare for Pending Wave of Changes to Star Ratings
When it comes to chasing high ratings and quality bonus payments to help them stay competitive, Medicare Advantage and Part D plan sponsors this year may be forced to overhaul their current strategies and investments if CMS finalizes a host of recently proposed changes. In addition to implementing a new outlier methodology that will drive up cut points and make it harder for plans to achieve 4 stars next fall, CMS last month issued a sweeping rule proposing policy and technical changes across the MA and Part D programs for contract year 2024. That rule included multiple proposals aimed directly at the stars program, such as the creation of a health equity index for the 2027 Star Ratings and the addition of several new measures to the 2026 Star Ratings.