Tufts Health Plan Medicare Plans Earn 5 Stars from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for Third Straight Year

WATERTOWN, Mass., Oct. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- For the third year in a row, Tufts Health Plan has earned 5 stars out of a possible 5 for its Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO and Senior Care Options plans from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as part of its annual Star ratings for 2018. Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO serves the most Medicare Advantage members in Massachusetts and has a 97 percent retention rate.

"We are extremely proud to earn a 5 Star rating for the third year in a row," said Patty Blake, president of Senior Products at Tufts Health Plan. "Our employees, as well as the provider community, deserve a great deal of credit for their commitment to our members. They consistently work hard every day, collaborating to provide care that is both high-quality and affordable, while helping our members live healthier lives."

Tufts Health Plan earned this rating for both quality and performance. CMS rated 384 Medicare Advantage plans this year. The rating puts Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO and Senior Care Options plans among the top four percent of plans nationally.

CMS calculates Star ratings from 1 to 5 (with 5 being the best) based on quality and performance for Medicare health and drug plans to help beneficiaries, their families and caregivers compare plans. Ratings are given for quality measures across several categories including keeping members healthy, managing chronic conditions, member satisfaction, customer service and pharmacy services.

Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO and Senior Care Options plans received 5 stars in 31 out of 45 measures including:

• Rating of Health Care Quality
• Rating of Health Plan
• Care Coordination
• Getting Appointments and Care Quickly

About Tufts Health Plan

Tufts Health Plan is nationally recognized for its commitment to providing innovative, high-quality health care coverage.  Staying true to our mission of improving the health and wellness of the diverse communities we serve, we touch the lives of more than 1.1 million members in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire through employer-sponsored plans; Medicare; Medicaid and Marketplace plans, offering health insurance coverage across the life span regardless of age or circumstance.

We are continually among the top health plans in the country based on quality and member satisfaction:

• Our private HMO and Massachusetts PPO plans are rated 5 out of 5 and our Massachusetts Medicaid plan is rated 4.5 out of 5 by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.[i]
• Our Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO and Senior Care Options plans received a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the highest rating possible.[ii]

To learn more about how we're redefining what a health plan can do, visit tuftshealthplan.com/ourstories. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Tufts Health Plan Medicare Preferred is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO depends on contract renewal. The Senior Care Options plan is available to those 65 and older who have MassHealth Standard (Medicaid).

Tufts Health Plan complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

ATTENTION:  If you speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you.  Call 1-800-701-9000 (TTY: 1-800-208-9562).

ATENCIÓN:  si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística.  Llame al 1-800-701-9000 (TTY: 1-800-208-9562).

ATENÇÃO:  Se fala português, encontram-se disponíveis serviços linguísticos, grátis.  Ligue para 1-800-701-9000 (TTY: 1-800-208-9562).

[i] The National Committee for Quality Assurance Private Health Insurance Plan Ratings and Medicaid Health Insurance Ratings 2017-2018. This rating references Tufts Health Plan's Massachusetts Medicaid plan.  Tufts Health Plan's Rhode Island Medicaid plan has not yet been rated. 

[ii] Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star rating system. Star Ratings are calculated each year and may change from one year to the next. For more information on plan ratings, go to www.medicare.gov. Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO plans received 5 out of 5 stars for contract years 2016 -2018.

Contact: Kathleen Makela 
kathleen_makela@tufts-health.com 
857-304-8293

View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tufts-health-plan-medicare-plans-earn-5-stars-from-centers-for-medicare-and-medicaid-services-for-third-straight-year-300535056.html

SOURCE Tufts Health Plan