To help consumers select a health plan based on quality, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services developed the Medicare Star Quality Ratings – an annual system that rates Medicare plans based on more than 50 care quality measures.
But a recent Kaiser Permanente survey reveals that few Medicare beneficiaries are familiar with CMS's rating system.
In September, Kaiser enlisted the help of Harris Interactive, a custom market research firm, to poll almost 500 Medicare-eligible seniors by phone. The survey showed that only 18 percent of Medicare-eligible seniors said that they are familiar with the government's rating system. Of those that are familiar, less than one-third have used the system to select their health plan. Moreover, only 2 percent of respondents were aware of how their current plans rates.
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What's more, fewer than 30 percent of respondents know where to find information about Medicare Star Quality Ratings. Kaiser has introduced a website, www.kp.org/medicarestars, dedicated to the rating system and designed to provide easy answers to frequently asked questions about the system.
"Evaluating a Medicare plan can be challenging. There are many things to consider, but quality should be at the top of any consumer's list," said Jed Weissberg, MD, senior vice president, Hospitals, Quality and Care Delivery Excellence, Kaiser Permanente. "Educating consumers about and encouraging them to use the Medicare Star Quality Ratings helps to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries are receiving only the best available care."
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