The 11th annual RISE Star Ratings Master Class will return as a live-streamed virtual event on December 14-15. Here’s a look at the topics industry specialists will discuss to arm you with the strategies to boost your Star ratings in 2021 and beyond.

Keynote presentations from CMS and NCQA

The first day of RISE’s Star Ratings Master Class will kick-off with a keynote presentation from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Ashby Wolfe, chief medical officer, regions VIII, IX, & X, CMS, will discuss upcoming changes in ratings, weights, and surveys. The session will also include a Q&A portion.

Day two will feature a fireside chat with the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).  Paul Cotton, director, federal affairs, NCQA, will explore lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and how to apply them to other outbreaks such as the flu season, and will also provide insight on the future of Stars.

Engaging roundtable discussions

Melissa Smith, executive vice president, consulting & professional services, HealthMine, will moderate an industry roundtable to address how to stay abreast of regulatory changes amid a pandemic and looking into the future. Panelists will explore all recent interim rules and discuss the impact of the adjustments made by CMS, review the expansion and implications of telehealth services, and share their predictions for what Star ratings and reporting will look like moving forward.

Ana Handshuh, principal, CAT5 Strategies, will also lead a “gathering of the minds” roundtable. The lively discussion will explore the reasons to strive for 5 stars and any drawbacks that may exist, factors you don’t want your provider to know (and vice versa), how the RBRVS paying method for providers is working and other possibilities, and whether we are really on the path to a healthy population.

Hot topics with industry specialists

The general sessions throughout the two-day conference will address timely topics on member experience and engagement you don’t want to miss:

  • Handshuh will return alongside Rex Wallace, principal, Rex Wallace Consulting, and Michelle D. Chang, director, network quality, SCAN Health, for the session From 2x to 4x: Cracking the Code of Member Experience to Maximize Results. The speakers will provide tips to prioritize and operationalize customer experience/CAHPS to increase scores, how to approach member experience holistically for better health outcomes, and interoperability strategies to ensure focus of care is shifted toward member experience and member satisfaction.
  • Smith will also provide a 2021 Star ratings industry update on where are now and what’s on the horizon. She will share an overview of the 2021 Star ratings for Medicare Advantage plans; discuss current market trends, proposed policy changes, and the impact on the future of Star ratings; and best practices to leverage technology to build successful quality improvement strategies for 2021 and beyond.
  • The results from the State of Healthcare Engagement Survey will be presented by Kathleen Ellmore, managing director, Engagys. Ellmore will share how to collaborate with providers to engage members who have deferred care and ensure their safety, explore the impact of social determinants of health on member engagement and how telehealth and other options can remove barriers to care.

Virtual conference perks

Throughout the live presentations, attendees will be able to submit questions to presenters and receive real-time answers. There will also be scheduled breaks on both days for attendees to engage and network virtually with colleagues and peers in RISE’s new virtual lounge.

In addition, participants will have access to conference presentations for 90 days following the live event, making it easy to re-watch sessions or catch any presentations that they may have been missed.

Click here to learn more about The RISE Star Ratings Master Class, including registration, full agenda, and list of speakers.