Quality Highlights

Thanks to strong collaboration with our provider and community partners, UCare delivers measurably high quality care to every one of our members.  In 2008, our member satisfaction numbers were strong, and several diagnosis-specific quality measures also continued positive trends begun in recent years.

Medicare

Strong Member Satisfaction with UCare for Seniors plan
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.

UCare Scores Well in 2009 CMS CAHPS Survey
The 2009 CMS CAHPS survey for Medicare showed positive results for UCare members in 2008.

1. UCare had 6 of 7 composite scores that were significantly higher than the national average. These were:
1. Getting Needed Care
2. Getting Care Quickly
3. Health Plan Customer Service
4. Getting Needed Prescription Drugs
5. Getting Information from the Plan About Prescription Drug Coverage and Cost
6. Willingness to Recommend Plan for Drug Coverage
2. The following UCare composite scores were the highest in Minnesota:
1. Health Plan Customer Service
2. Getting Needed Prescription Drugs
3. Willingness to Recommend Plan for Drug Coverage
3. UCare had 4 of 5 overall rating scores that were significantly higher than the national average:
1. Rating of Health Plan
2. Rating of Care Received
3. Rating of Specialist
4. Rating of Drug Coverage
4. The following UCare overall ratings were the highest in Minnesota:
1. Rating of Health Plan
2. Rating of Specialist
3. Rating of Drug Coverage

Special Needs Plans and Minnesota Health Care Programs

UCare Meets Several Preventive Care and Disease Management Goals
We worked hard in 2008 to advance the health of each and every member through preventive care and regular screenings. Our efforts to help members better manage such conditions as diabetes were particularly successful. In fact, several Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS) scores for UCare members improved significantly from the year before.

In 2008, UCare met the Department of Human Services (DHS) goals for primary care and well-child visits, and child development, blood lead, and child mental health screenings, among others. Members of UCare's MinnesotaCare, PMAP, and PGAMC programs met these goals. We also met goals for UCare's Minnesota Senior Care and Minnesota Senior Care Plus members.

More detailed information on UCare quality initiatives among our Medicare, Special Needs Plans, and Minnesota Health Care Programs offerings is available in the 2008 UCare Quality Summary.