Rising Stars

In this episode of Rising Stars, Jessica Assefa is joined by Kori Haddix of Press Ganey and Genia Fick, Chief Quality Officer at Inland Empire Health Plan, to discuss one of the newest measures coming to Medicare Stars: Depression Screening and Follow-Up (DSF). Together, they explore what health plans can learn during the display period, how to identify performance gaps before the measure impacts...

In this episode of Rising Stars, presented by Press Ganey, Mick Twomey and Jessica Assefa sit down with David Shapiro to unpack new data shaping the future of Medicare Advantage and health plan performance. At the center of the conversation is a critical insight: what looks like strong access on paper doesn’t always translate into real-world access for members. Coverage and network size may check...

CMS’s final rule didn’t bring surprises, but it did raise the stakes. While most plans may not see immediate Star rating changes, the underlying math tells a different story: performance is shifting, and no one is in a safe zone. In this episode, Press Ganey’s Jessica Assefa and Mick Twomey break down what the rule really means, and why plans must move beyond measures to understand which members a...

As plans balance Star year 2027 performance with Star year 2028 planning, this episode tackles the operational realities of Stars strategy in real time. Jay Palmer, Medicare Advantage & Stars strategy executive, shares practical advice on member segmentation, provider collaboration, vendor governance, and cross-functional alignment, along with examples from her own experience leading quality p...

In this episode of Rising Stars, Jessica Assefa and Phil Collins of Press Ganey unpack what health plans can still control right now, especially during HEDIS medical record review season, and why strategy matters more than effort. Guest LaTonya Augustine (Director of CAHPS & Stars Programs at Clever Care) shares how Clever Care sustained growth while improving Stars performance, including achi...