Study Shows Low Income Beneficiaries Negatively Impact Star Ratings

A new study finds Medicare Advantage plans serving low income beneficiaries may be providing higher quality care than their star ratings suggest. The study, done by Inovalon, a healthcare and technology analytics company, and the Special Needs Plan Alliance, found that “disadvantaged beneficiaries--such as dual eligible beneficiaries covered by both Medicare and Medicaid--have worse health outcomes that cannot be attributed to a health plan's quality of service,” according to a release about the study. The study particularly pinpoints dual eligible...