CMS releases Medicare Advantage quality data for racial and ethnic minorities

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Office of Minority Health today released data detailing the quality of care received by people with Medicare Advantage by racial or ethnic group. The database presents measures on patient experience and clinical care as collected through the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set and the Medicare Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey for different racial and ethnic groups at the national level. “These data are a good first step in understanding disparities in Medicare Advantage,” said Sean Cavanaugh, CMS deputy administrator and director of the Center for Medicare. “We look forward to working with plans in closing the differences in the quality of care that people with Medicare Advantage receive.” For more information, see CMS’s answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the data, which CMS plans to report annually.