On October 13, 2023, CMS released the Medicare 2024 Part C & D Star Ratings Technical Notes. (Read the full version here). This update documents the trends and high-level summary of performance associated with key Part C & D measures. As a partner for improving quality, PQS has provided key highlights from the 2024 Part C & D Star Ratings Technical Notes that impact pharmacy-based quality measures. Highlights include the impact of the Tukey outlier deletion, focused updates for medication-related Part D measures, performance trend graphs for MAPD and PDP, and measure threshold charts.

A few general points summarize that:

• Up to 40 Ratings Measures: MAPD contracts are rated on up to 40 unique quality and performance measures.
  o MA-only contracts (without prescription drug coverage, or Part D) are rated on up to 30 measures.
  o Standalone Part D (PDP) contracts are rated on up to 12 measures.
• Controlling Blood Pressure now triple-rated: The recently revised measure (Part C) transitioned to a triple-weighted measure for 2024 as anticipated.
• Plan All-Cause Readmissions new for 2024: Respecified Part C measure moved into the 2024 Star Ratings as a new measure (weight of 1).

Access the full list of general points on page 2 of the 2024 Medicare Part C and D Star Ratings Technical Notes Summary.

The 2024 Star Ratings for Medicare Part C & D plans are displayed on the Medicare Plan Finder found at www.medicare.gov. As of October 15, 2023, Medicare beneficiaries can view these 2024 Star Ratings when selecting their MAPD or PDP for the 2024 benefit year as part of the Open Enrollment period which will continue through December 7, 2023.