Press Releases: Colorado
October 12, 2012
Kaiser Permanente Receives Highest Possible Rating for Medicare Plan in Colorado
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services awarded Kaiser Permanente its highest rating of 5 stars for quality and service
DENVER — The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced today that the Kaiser Permanente Medicare plan in Colorado earned 5 stars, the highest overall rating for quality and service for 2013 plans. This is the third year the region received the top rating from CMS.
“We are thankful our Medicare plan has been recognized for providing our members with the highest quality outcomes and service,” said Glenn Gade, MD, operations chief for regional specialty and geriatrics, Kaiser Permanente Colorado. “We will continue our work to keep seniors healthy in Colorado by providing excellent, coordinated care supported by an advanced electronic medical record.”
Each year through the Medicare Star Quality Ratings system, CMS rates Medicare health plans (both parts C and D) on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, with 5 stars representing the highest quality. The overall scores are based on more than 50 care and service quality measures across five categories, including staying healthy, managing chronic conditions, member satisfaction, customer service and pharmacy services.
“We are proud to earn the highest ratings for quality because it reflects Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to achieving the best health outcomes for our members,” said Jed Weissberg, MD, senior vice president, Hospitals, Quality and Care Delivery Excellence, Kaiser Permanente. “We offer the tools and services necessary to help them maintain total health. Our members have the ability to make online appointments, get lab results electronically, access to their complete health records, and email their personal physician directly and securely.”
Kaiser Permanente Colorado has participated in the Medicare program since 1986 and currently serves 79,805 Coloradans in the Denver/Boulder and Southern Colorado service areas. In addition, on Oct. 15, Medicare-eligible residents in all of Larimer County can begin enrolling in Kaiser Permanente’s Senior Advantage Plans with a start date of Jan. 1, 2013. This is the first time Kaiser Permanente’s Medicare plans have been available to all eligible residents in Larimer County. This new offering comes on the heels of Kaiser Permanente’s recent expansion to Northern Colorado, including the opening of new medical offices in Fort Collins and Loveland and a partnership with Banner Health hospitals and physicians.
Kaiser Permanente Colorado consistently ranks among the nation’s top health plans for delivering quality care and service. Just last month, Kaiser Permanente was recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance as the highest-rated commercial health insurance plan in Colorado and No. 6 in the nation. In addition, “NCQA’s Health Insurance Plan Rankings 2012-2013” lists Kaiser Permanente as the top Medicare plan in Colorado, and for the fourth year in a row, one of the top three Medicare plans in the U.S.
In addition to receiving high-quality care and service, 5-star excellence means that Medicare beneficiaries may enroll in a 5-star plan from Dec. 8, 2012, to Nov. 30, 2013, without having to wait until the next annual enrollment period.
Medicare beneficiaries can learn more about the Medicare Star Quality Ratings and Kaiser Permanente’s Medicare plans by visiting kp.org/medicarestars or medicare.gov, or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Plan performance summary star ratings are assessed each year and may change from one year to the next.
About Kaiser Permanente Colorado
Kaiser Permanente Colorado is the state’s largest nonprofit health plan, proudly working to improve the lives and health of Colorado residents for more than 40 years. Kaiser Permanente Colorado provides comprehensive health care services to more than 535,000 members through 26 medical offices and a network of affiliated hospitals and physicians. The health plan was named “Highest in Member Satisfaction” among Commercial Health Plans by J.D. Power and Associates for the fifth straight year. Kaiser Permanente was recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as the top-ranked commercial health plan in Colorado, No. 6 in the nation and the second ranked Medicare plan in the U.S. Kaiser Permanente was also recently recognized as a 2012 Hypertension Champion by Million Hearts™. In 2011, Kaiser Permanente proudly directed more than $90 million to community benefit programs to improve the health of all Coloradans. For more Kaiser Permanente news, visit kp.org/newscenter or follow us on twitter @kpcolorado or facebook.com/kpcolorado..