Welcome to the October edition of Newsflash. This month we're talking: STAR ratings, clinical outcomes, and patient engagement.
Here's what to expect in this edition of Newsflash:
STAR Ratings are Out
Ratings are stabilizing, but many plans can't quite reach the coveted 4 stars.
Clinical Outcomes the Path to QBP
With the reduced weight of Member Experience measures, Clinical outcomes rise in importance.
Bridging the Digital and Physical Divide
View our on-demand webinar that covers evolving member expectations and the latest innovations in at-home health testing.
STAR ratings are out, here's what you need to know:
Your Medicare Advantage plan’s Star Rating for 2026 is already determined—but your strategy for 2027 and beyond is not.
The CMS’s recent announcements confirm a landscape where clinical outcomes and closing care gaps are the most reliable path to securing Quality Bonus Payments. The days of coasting on high member experience scores are over.
What Changed: The new methodology drastically reduces the weight of member experience measures, prioritizing high-impact clinical results like Kidney Health Evaluation and Diabetes Control.
Who's Winning: Only a select few contracts hit the top 5-Star mark, demonstrating that precise, outcome-focused execution is the market differentiator.
Your Next Move: Ash is helping plans efficiently target and close those high-weighted clinical gaps, especially in hard-to-reach populations, using seamless at-home testing and engagement.
Read our full report to master the 2026 findings and chart your course to 4.5+ Stars.
Clinical outcomes are important now more than ever to drive quality improvement.
CMS has significantly reduced the weight of Member Experience measures, while high-impact Clinical/Intermediate Outcomes like Blood Pressure Control, Diabetes Care, and Colorectal Cancer Screening remain highly weighted.
Our solutions move beyond simple engagement; we offer the full cycle—from outreach to lab results—that guarantees data submission for the hardest clinical measures and helps close these critical care gaps.
At home FIT testing can be easy, with some populations boasting 2.4x return rates.
Blood Pressure Control
Our partners allow us to combine Remote Patient Monitoring devices and diagnostic kits into a single, integrated platform.
Kidney Function Screening
New to STAR ratings, this measure can be critical in improving quality metrics and reaching that 4+ rating.
Check out our latest webinar:
Bridging the Physical and Digital Divide: Creating Meaningful Member Interactions
Member engagement is more challenging than ever. Health plan members' expectations are changing, and the rapid pace of innovation in at-home healthcare creates increased challenges to adapt. It's time to rethink how you connect with your members to create meaningful relationships, close care gaps, and improve outcomes.
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