More than 60 Percent of Medicare Advantage
Health Plan Membership Will Be in Plans Rated Four Stars or
Better
Anthem, Inc. (NYSE:ANTM) is pleased to announce that its
Medicare Advantage health plan affiliates have improved their
Medicare Star Ratings. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) today released their latest Star Ratings, which give
health plans scores for the quality and performance of their
services. Heading into 2018, more than 60 percent of the Medicare
Advantage members in Anthem’s affiliated health plans will be
enrolled in plans that achieved four stars or better, with five
stars being the best rating. The Star Ratings provide further
confirmation that Anthem’s multi-year focus on improving the
quality of its Medicare offerings is delivering real benefits for
members. Additionally, the Company aims to further improve the
Stars performance of its health plans moving into 2019.
Today’s announcement is a significant achievement, as the
ratings represent the highest percentage garnered by the Company
and its health plan affiliates since the start of CMS’ Medicare
Star Ratings program. According to the 2016 Star Ratings, only 22
percent of members were enrolled in four-star or better plans.
“Over the last four years, Anthem has made a commitment to
improve the performance and quality of our Medicare platform,
ensuring we provide greater access to high-quality, affordable
health care,” said Joseph R. Swedish, Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer, Anthem. “As we look ahead, we will continue to
maintain a diligent focus on innovating our Medicare Advantage
product portfolio and delivering the highest quality plans for
current members and those we hope to have the privilege of serving
in the future.”
In addition, 2018 also marks the first time at least one of
Anthem’s affiliated health plans will be rated five stars by CMS’
Medicare Star Ratings program. The Company’s affiliates will be
offering five-star PPO plans in the New Hampshire, Georgia, and
Kentucky markets.
Anthem and its affiliated health plans have made considerable
investments in the Medicare programs offered to consumers,
broadening the product portfolio, expanding services areas,
increasing local health plan staffing, and deepening the level of
provider and member engagement. As a result of these initiatives,
Anthem anticipates more meaningful growth in its Medicare business
in 2018, compared to previous years. In addition, the positive Star
Ratings further reflect Anthem’s continued investment in
strengthening the Company’s Medicare program.
The CMS’ Medicare Star Rating system rates the quality and
performance of Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug
plans to help consumers and their families compare plans. Star
Ratings are calculated each year using a scale of one to five stars
(with five being the best), and may change from year to year.
Medicare Advantage plans are rated on their ability to help
members stay healthy, assist members in managing chronic
conditions, ensure positive member experiences with their health
plan, achieve member satisfaction, and provide effective customer
service. Additionally, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Advantage
Prescription Drug plans are rated on how well they provide
medication coverage along a number of factors: customer service,
member complaints, member experience with drug plan, and drug
safety. The annual Medicare Star Ratings are posted online at
www.medicare.gov.
Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system. Star
Ratings are calculated each year and may change from one year to
the next.
About Anthem, Inc.
Anthem is working to transform health care with trusted and
caring solutions. Our health plan companies deliver quality
products and services that give their members access to the care
they need. With over 74 million people served by its affiliated
companies, including more than 40 million within its family of
health plans, Anthem is one of the nation’s leading health benefits
companies. For more information about Anthem’s family of companies,
please visit www.antheminc.com/companies.
Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains certain forward-looking information about
us that is intended to be covered by the safe harbor for
“forward-looking statements” provided by the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are
generally not historical facts. Words such as “expect,” “feel,”
“believe,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “intend,”
“estimate,” “project,” “forecast,” “plan” and similar expressions
are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These
statements include, but are not limited to: financial projections
and estimates and their underlying assumptions; statements
regarding plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future
operations, products and services; and statements regarding future
performance. Such statements are subject to certain risks and
uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally
beyond our control, that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the
forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include:
those discussed and identified in our public filings with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC; increased government
participation in, or regulation or taxation of health benefits and
managed care operations, including, but not limited to, the impact
of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health
Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, or Health Care
Reform, and the impact of any future modification, repeal or
replacement of Health Care Reform; trends in health care costs and
utilization rates; our ability to secure sufficient premium rates
including regulatory approval for and implementation of such rates;
our participation in federal and state health insurance exchanges
under Health Care Reform, which have experienced and continue to
experience challenges due to implementation of initial and
phased-in provisions of Health Care Reform, and which entail
uncertainties associated with the mix and volume of business,
particularly in our Individual and Small Group markets, that could
negatively impact the adequacy of our premium rates and which may
not be sufficiently offset by the risk apportionment provisions of
Health Care Reform; the ultimate outcome of litigation between
Cigna Corporation (“Cigna”) and us related to the merger agreement
between the parties, including our claim for damages against Cigna,
Cigna’s claim for payment of a termination fee and other damages
against us, and the potential for such litigation to cause us to
incur substantial costs, materially distract management and
negatively impact our reputation and financial positions; our
ability to contract with providers on cost-effective and
competitive terms; competitor pricing below market trends of
increasing costs; reduced enrollment, as well as a negative change
in our health care product mix; risks and uncertainties regarding
Medicare and Medicaid programs, including those related to
non-compliance with the complex regulations imposed thereon and
funding risks with respect to revenue received from participation
therein; a downgrade in our financial strength ratings; increases
in costs and other liabilities associated with increased
litigation, government investigations, audits or reviews; medical
malpractice or professional liability claims or other risks related
to health care services provided by our subsidiaries; our ability
to repurchase shares of our common stock and pay dividends on our
common stock due to the adequacy of our cash flow and earnings and
other considerations; non-compliance by any party with the
Express Scripts, Inc. pharmacy benefit management services
agreement, which could result in financial penalties; our inability
to meet customer demands, and sanctions imposed by governmental
entities, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services;
events that result in negative publicity for us or the health
benefits industry; failure to effectively maintain and modernize
our information systems; events that may negatively affect our
licenses with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association; state
guaranty fund assessments for insolvent insurers; possible
impairment of the value of our intangible assets if future results
do not adequately support goodwill and other intangible assets;
intense competition to attract and retain employees; unauthorized
disclosure of member or employee sensitive or confidential
information, including the impact and outcome of investigations,
inquiries, claims and litigation related to the cyber attack we
reported in February 2015; changes in economic and market
conditions, as well as regulations that may negatively affect our
investment portfolios and liquidity; possible restrictions in the
payment of dividends by our subsidiaries and increases in required
minimum levels of capital and the potential negative effect from
our substantial amount of outstanding indebtedness; general risks
associated with mergers, acquisitions and strategic alliances;
various laws and provisions in our governing documents that may
prevent or discourage takeovers and business combinations; future
public health epidemics and catastrophes; and general economic
downturns. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date
hereof. We do not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking
statements, except as required by applicable securities laws.
Investors are also advised to carefully review and consider the
various risks and other disclosures discussed in our SEC
reports.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171011005382/en/
AnthemInvestor
RelationsWill Feest,
317-488-6057william.feest@anthem.comorMediaHieu
Nguyen, 202-510-8848hieu.nguyen2@anthem.com
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