Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States received the highest possible rating of 5 out of 5 stars from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for quality and service. This is the sixth year in a row the organization has received 5 out of 5 stars.
Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States is one of only 15 plans nationwide to receive the highest possible rating of 5 out of 5 stars from CMS. It is the only plan in Virginia and the District of Columbia to receive five stars and one of only two in Maryland.
CMS created the Medicare star quality rating system to provide beneficiaries with a way to assess Medicare plans based on quality of care and service delivery, so they can make an informed decision when choosing a plan. CMS uses the star ratings system to rank Medicare health plans on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, with 5 stars representing the highest quality.
“I am so proud of this recognition because it signals that we at Kaiser Permanente are providing the absolute best care and coverage to Medicare members in the Mid-Atlantic region,” said Kim Horn, president of Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States.
“Our physicians and caregivers are dedicated to the health and well-being of our members and the community,” said Bernadette Loftus, MD, associate executive director, The Permanente Medical Group. “This rating highlights the trust and confidence that our members place in Kaiser Permanente and in the expertise of our physicians.”
The overall scores for Medicare quality stars are based on care and service quality measures (Parts C and D) across nine categories, including staying healthy, member satisfaction, managing chronic conditions, customer service and pharmacy services. The star ratings also measure health plans’ compliance performance.
Star ratings are calculated each year and may change from one year to the next. The methodology CMS uses for the star ratings is dynamic and continues to change. This means that Medicare health plans must stay ahead of the curve on measures that may be included in the 5-star portfolio, and continually improve their performance to achieve 5 stars.
Along with high-quality care and service, another benefit of 5-star plans is a longer enrollment opportunity. Medicare beneficiaries may change to a 5-star Kaiser Permanente individual Medicare plan through a CMS 5-star Special Enrollment Period from Dec. 8, 2017, to Nov. 30, 2018, without having to wait until the next annual enrollment period. Medicare beneficiaries can learn more about the star ratings and Kaiser Permanente’s Medicare health plans by visiting kp.org/medicarestars.
The CMS 5-star ratings is the latest in a series of positive recognitions for Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States. Last month, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) rated Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States as one of the top Private (commercial) and Medicare health plans available in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia, according to the organization’s Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2017-2018. Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States’ commercial and Medicare plans scored 4.5 out of the 5.0 scale in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.
In addition, according to the newly released NCQA Quality Compass data for Private/Commercial plans, Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States has more national No. 1 ratings and regional No. 1 ratings than any other health plan in the U.S. for measures of Effectiveness of Care. Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States rated No. 1 in the nation for 15 clinical measures, including Breast Cancer Screening, Controlling High Blood Pressure, Colorectal Cancer Screening, according to the newly released 2017 NCQA Quality Compass® data.
