FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 3, 2009 

Mercy MedicareADVANTAGE named one of the country’s top health plans and receives 5-star excellent ratings from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
 

As debate over healthcare reform continues, some Medicare Advantage Plans have drawn criticism as being overly expensive without providing additional services or benefits to seniors than original Medicare coverage.

Not all Medicare Advantage Plans are created equal, however.

Designed to provide all the coverage of original Medicare and more, many Medicare Advantage plans offer lower copayments and cover additional benefits and services not covered by traditional Medicare. In addition, some plans also include prescription drug coverage.

Mercy Health Plans offers a top-ranked Medicare health plan in Missouri and is one of the top 100 in the nation, according to the U.S. News & World Report, America’s Best Health Plans 2009-10 list.

That list ranks Mercy MedicareADVANTAGE, #93 out of more than 700 in the nation and #2 in Missouri. Medicare plans are evaluated on 44 measures in three broad areas including member satisfaction, prevention, and treating of illness.

U.S. News & World Report and the National Committee for Quality Assurance develop the America’s Best Health Plans list. Member satisfaction makes up 25 percent, prevention and treatment together equals 60 percent and NCQA accreditation is 15 percent. Rank is determined by each health plan’s score.

Mercy Health Plans is also the only Medicare Advantage plan in Missouri to receive a Five Star Excellent Rating for 2010 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The rating is based on information gathered from Medicare members during the 2009 Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey.

The 2010 Medicare & You handbook produced by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ranked each of the Medicare Advantage plans offered by Mercy Health Plans with a Five Star Excellent rating -- the highest designation possible.

“Mercy Health Plans’ focus is improving the health of our members and providing excellent customer service. Being recognized as a top plan in the nation is just icing on the cake,” says Stephen Spurgeon, M.D. Chief Medical Officer for Mercy Health Plans. “Our rankings reflect the hard work of our employees and primary care providers to ensure that our members are getting the right care at the right time.”

This integrated care management approach has drawn national attention as Mercy providers focus on redesigning care to improve quality and slow Medicare expenditure growth.

Mercy’s St. John’s Health System, based in Springfield, Mo. continues to be among the nation’s leading health care institutions in these efforts, recently recognized by CMS for success as part of a national Medicare Physician Group Practice (PGP) demonstration project. The PGP demonstration project provides incenties for better coordination of Medicare Part A and Part B services, promotes the investment of care management programs and recognizes physicians for improving health outcomes.

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Mercy Health Plans, a subsidiary of the Sisters of Mercy Health System, offers customized health benefit solutions, administrative services and insurance coverage to employer groups, individuals and families. Headquartered in Chesterfield, MO, Mercy Health Plans also provides a full spectrum of healthcare management services including health and wellness programs and services as well as disease management to regions in Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma.

Mercy Health Plans offers a variety of Medicare Advantage plans for Medicare-eligible individuals. Medicare Advantage plans cover all Medicare-approved services including major healthcare expenses, preventive and routine services, and most plans include prescription drug benefits. With plan options beginning at a zero premium, Mercy MedicareADVANTAGE members may choose a plan that fits both their needs as well as their budgets.

Sisters of Mercy Health System (Mercy) operates 19 hospitals, physician practices, outpatient clinics, health plans and related health and human services in a seven-state area including Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.

 

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Dr. Stephen Spurgeon is available for interviews. To schedule, please contact Sarah Gladson, Mercy Health Plans at 314-810-8372 or sarah.gladson@mercy.net; or Cora Scott, St. John’s Health System at 417-820-2426 or cora.scott@mercy.net.