CMS Increases Star-Rating Threshold For 2015 Medicare Advantage Plan Rate Bonuses

For the 2015 Medicare Advantage plan year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will limit bonus payments to the baseline capitation rate to Medicare Advantage plans that earn at least four quality stars; previously the bonus payment threshold was three stars. Plans earning four and five quality stars will be eligible for performance bonus payments of up to five percent of the baseline capitation rate. Plan baseline payments will increase by 0.4%. Individual plan payments vary based on the plan’s location and quality star rating.

CMS released the details in “Announcement of Calendar Year (CY) 2015 . . .