Assessment of Medicare Advantage Stars Measures: Impact on Kidney Care Quality and Future Opportunities

The authors assess the impact of the Medicare Advantage Stars quality measures on kidney care, particularly in light of the increasing enrollment of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). They find that while some measures are valid for monitoring diabetes and hypertension care, there are significant gaps in capturing guideline-directed kidney care practices, such as CKD screening and nephrology referrals. The study highlights the need for improved alignment of Stars measures with kidney care guidelines to enhance patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.