LOCAL ORGANIZATION RECEIVES 5-STAR
QUALITY RATING FROM THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID
SERVICES
October 2011
(Portland, ME) – Given the
on-going debate over changes to Medicare as the nation
struggles with budget deficits, one local nonprofit
organization has just received two five-star ratings
from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS) for its Value and Prime Medicare Advantage plans.
Martin’s Point Health Care is a not-for-profit organization
that provides primary care services, health plans, and
wellness services in northern New England. A 5-star
rating is the highest granted by CMS, a recognition
validates an organization’s commitment to and delivery
of quality healthcare and service excellence.
The CMS 5-star rating system
was developed to monitor Medicare Advantage plans and
ensure that they meet specific quality standards. It
provides the nation’s more than 47 million Medicare
beneficiaries with a tool to compare the quality of
care and customer service that Medicare health and drug
plans offer. The rating system considers several quality
measures, such as success in providing preventive services
like screenings and vaccines; chronic illness management;
and ratings of plan responsiveness, care, and customer
service.
The star rating system has
existed for several years, but 2012 will mark the first
time that CMS provides bonus dollars and additional
marketing privileges to the highest rated plans. These
market incentives provide further indication of the
shift toward a Medicare system that values health solutions
that focus on quality outcomes and patient experience.
The incentives will also help the highest rated plans
to grow, which will provide more Medicare beneficiaries
with greater access to the highest quality care.
For nearly 20 years, Martin’s
Point has built a legacy of quality health care on the
pillars of affordability and exceptional patient experience
that leads to healthier lives. This focus has allowed
the organization to produce some of the best health
care plans throughout the United States. For the last
three years, Martin’s Point has had the highest rated
Medicare Advantage plan in Maine. It is one of only
nine Medicare Advantage organizations nationally to
receive the CMS 5-star designation for 2012.
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