Is the Medicare Advantage Bonus Program a Sham?
Because criteria for evaluation are not published until after the period for which performance will be evaluated, there is no possibility that MA plans will be able to improve their performance to achieve the goals CMS intends to incentivize … patients whose preferences, health status, and even counties of residence, don’t match the CMS model of a highly rated plan will be at a disadvantage. Simultaneously, the system will likely reduce the scope of choice available to MA-eligible beneficiaries, and reduce competition among MA plans.
More from Douglas Holtz-Eakin, et. al. at American Action Forum.
So much for keeping your health plan if you like it.
So much for choice.
I have to agree with you on this one. I have no problem with the original star-rating program, supplying information regarding general quality to uninformed consumers. But basing bonuses off that rating is going too far.