Quality Highlights

Thanks to strong collaboration with our providers and community partners, UCare delivers measurably high quality care to every one of our members. In 2010, quality monitoring and program initiatives demonstrated significant positive activities and outcomes.

Medicare

In 2011, UCare achieved the Overall Rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, which equates to the “Very Good” category of the Medicare Plan Performance Ratings. This rating placed UCare in the top 9% of health plans in the country.

UCare Scores Well Above the National Average in 2010 CAHPS® Survey
CMS gauges member satisfaction of Medicare Advantage plans through an annual survey called the CAHPS survey (Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems). The CAHPS survey not only provides Medicare beneficiaries with information to assist them in making informed choices about health plans, but also helps Medicare Advantage plans identify problems, improve quality and services, and help the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services monitor the quality and performance of these plans.

The 2010 CAHPS survey results for UCare’s Medicare Advantage plan UCare for Seniors were significantly higher than the national average results on a number of ratings and scores for both Minnesota and Wisconsin members. These were:

1. Overall Rating of Health Plan
2. Overall Rating of Personal Doctor
3. Getting Needed Care
4. Getting Care Quickly
5. Health Plan Customer Service 
6. Getting Needed Perscription Drugs
7. Getting Information from the Plan about Prescription Drug Coverage and Cost

Special Needs Plans and Minnesota Health Care Programs

UCare Sees Significant Clinical Improvements 
We continue to advance the well being of our members through new health initiatives and screenings. In 2010, we improved the health of members by significantly increasing rates in HPV vaccines, childhood blood lead screenings, calcium and vitamin D supplementation, aspirin therapy, and diabetic eye exams. In addition, we successfully completed performance improvement projects by surpassing established goals for pneumococcal vaccines and colon cancer screenings, among others. Members of UCare's MinnesotaCare, Prepaid Medical Assistance Program (PMAP), and Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO) programs met these goals.

UCare Earns High Satisfaction Marks
Member satisfaction remains strong. Among our PMAP and MinnesotaCare members, UCare scored 90% or above in 6 CAHPS survey ratings. A high percentage of members enrolled in UCare’s diabetes program agreed that UCare’s diabetes mailings made them more aware of their diabetes care.