America鈥檚 seniors are benefiting from a that ranks the quality of Medicare Advantage plans, according to a .
Authors affiliated with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) conducted a study of almost 1.3 million Medicare beneficiaries. They found a positive relationship — a one-star higher rating was associated with a 9.5 percentage point increase in likelihood to enroll.
The rating system uses survey data and other measurements of effectiveness to gauge the quality of the private , which are an alternative to聽traditional fee-for-service Medicare. Dr. William Shrank, a co-author of the study, said the was a good sign for the star system put in place in 2011.
鈥淭his is a reassuring story that helps to confirm that by providing beneficiaries with better information, by empowering them, they鈥檙e making better decisions,鈥 he said.
The ratings-to-enrollment relationship was weaker in some groups, including rural, low-income and black communities. Shrank said he was unsure of why the subgroups had different results, but that they still followed the overall trend, just at a lower magnitude.
The CMS rating system is part of a larger movement to reward the quality of health care systems, coverage plans, physicians and hospitals under the health law. According to the report, produced by the , 鈥渕any insurers are devising strategies to improve their star rating to obtain bonuses.鈥
But authors commented that a higher rated plan isn鈥檛 necessarily a better option for a beneficiary. There are several factors to consider when it comes to Medicare Advantage plans, including cost of the plan, doctor and hospital choice and the prescription drug formulary.
鈥淐onsumers have a bunch of things to look at,鈥 Shrank said. 鈥淨uality should be an important consideration, but it isn鈥檛 the only consideration.鈥
