RT Journal
A1 Reid RO, Deb P, Howell BL, Shrank WH
T1 ASsociation between medicare advantage plan star ratings and enrollment
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2013
FD January 16
VO 309
IS 3
SP 267
OP 274
DO 10.1001/jama.2012.173925
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2012.173925
AB Importance 
                  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.Design, Setting, and Participants 
                  Cross-sectional study of 2011 Medicare Advantage enrollments among 952 352 first-time enrollees and 322 699 enrollees switching plans.Main Outcome Measure 
                  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.Conclusion and Relevance 
                  Medicare's 5-star rating program for Medicare Advantage is associated with beneficiaries' enrollment decisions.