title: Association between Medicare Advantage plan star ratings and enrollment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services publishes star ratings reflecting Medicare Advantage plan quality to inform enrollment decisions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the association between publicly reported Medicare Advantage plan quality ratings and enrollment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of 2011 Medicare Advantage enrollments among 952,352 first-time enrollees and 322,699 enrollees switching plans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Association between star ratings and enrollment was modeled using conditional logit regression, controlling for beneficiary and plan characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 952,352 included first-time enrollees, a 1-star higher rating was associated with a 9.5 (95% CI, 9.3-9.6) percentage-point increase in likelihood to enroll. The highest rating available to a beneficiary was associated with a 1.9 (95% CI, 1.8-2.1) percentage-point increase in likelihood to enroll. Among the 322,699 enrollees switching plans, a 1-star higher rating was associated with a 4.4 (95% CI, 4.2-4.7) percentage-point increase in likelihood to enroll. A rating at least as high as a beneficiary's prior plan was associated with a 6.3 (95% CI, 6.0-6.6) percentage-point increase in likelihood to enroll. Star ratings were less strongly associated with enrollment for black, rural, low-income, and the youngest beneficiaries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medicare's 5-star rating program for Medicare Advantage is associated with beneficiaries' enrollment decisions.
authors: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation, Rapid-Cycle Evaluation Group, Baltimore, MD 21244, USA.
authors: Rachel O
authors: RO
authors: Reid
authors: Partha
authors: P
authors: Deb
authors: Benjamin L
authors: BL
authors: Howell
authors: William H
authors: WH
authors: Shrank
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014487:Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D030881:Disclosure; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D020398:Medicare Part C / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D014481:United States; D001741:Black or African American