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By midyear, Medicare Advantage plans have a much clearer picture of their Star Ratings performance. Early trends have emerged, high-risk members are becoming easier to identify and quality initiatives are beginning to show results.
The second half of the measurement year is an opportunity to build on that momentum. By evaluating current performance, closing remaining gaps and preparing for upcoming program changes, plans can strengthen year-end results while positioning themselves for success in measurement year 2027.
As you plan for Q3 and Q4, here are five priorities to consider before the measurement year comes to a close.
1. Identify high-risk members before they become year-end challenges
By midyear, members who are at risk for ending the year guaranteed nonadherent are beginning to emerge. Identifying these members now gives your MA plan time to intervene before missed refills become missed Star Ratings opportunities.
It’s critical for plans to pinpoint members whose adherence is beginning to decline and prioritize those who can still be successfully recovered. This targeted approach helps focus engagement resources where they can have the greatest impact, while reducing the year-end scramble to improve performance.
As Part D adherence measures return to triple weighting for the 2027 measurement year, now is an ideal time to evaluate and strengthen your Stars strategy. Plans that build a proactive adherence program today will be better positioned to improve both year-end performance and future Star Ratings success.
2. Strengthen your MTM strategy before its return to Star Ratings
While the Medication Therapy Management (MTM) measure remains on display for the 2026 measurement year, it returns to the Star Ratings lineup for measurement year 2027. The second half of the year is an ideal time to assess your plan’s readiness rather than waiting until the measure is once again tied to performance.
Review your current MTM strategy, evaluate how members are qualifying for MTM services and identify opportunities to improve outreach, comprehensive medication review (CMR) completion and member engagement. Understanding where your program stands today can help uncover operational gaps before they affect future performance.
MA plans that use 2026 to strengthen their MTM strategy will be better prepared to meet 2027 requirements while building a more scalable program that supports medication optimization, member outcomes and Star Ratings success.
Move your Star Ratings strategy ahead with these tips. Check out our white paper for details! Medication Adherence: The “Hidden Multiplier” Behind Sustainable Star Ratings
3. Keep osteoporosis screening and treatment on track
By June 30, 2026, members who qualify for the Osteoporosis Management in Women Who Had a Fracture (OMW) measure have been identified. The focus for the second half of the 2026 measurement year shifts to ensuring qualified members complete the required bone density testing or osteoporosis treatment within the 180-day timeframe.
Now is the time to evaluate how your plan is tracking against the measure and identify members who remain at risk of missing the compliance window for 2026. Coordinating with providers, engaging members early and addressing barriers to follow-up care can help prevent missed opportunities before the 2026 measurement year closes.
Also remember that July 1, 2026 begins the next qualification window. Your plan must be prepared to successfully address qualified members for follow-up that will ultimately impact your plan’s performance on this measure in 2027.
4. Use patient safety trends to get ahead of next year
By midyear, performance on the patient safety measures Concurrent Use of Opioids and Benzodiazepines (COB) and Polypharmacy: Use of Multiple Anticholinergic Medications in Older Adults (Poly-ACH) has often begun to stabilize. Members who become noncompliant with these measures typically do so early in the measurement year, making midyear performance a valuable indicator of where your plan stands.
Evaluate your current rates to identify patterns and understand which members are contributing to measure performance. These insights can help strengthen your strategy for the remainder of the year while highlighting opportunities to intervene sooner for 2027.
As you close out the 2026 measurement year, focus on members who have already become noncompliant to help prevent them from qualifying for these measures again early next year. The earlier potentially inappropriate medication use is identified and addressed, the greater the opportunity to improve patient safety and future Star Ratings performance.
5. Finish strong with targeted end-of-year adherence campaigns
As the measurement year comes to a close, targeted outreach can help maximize remaining adherence opportunities.
Plans can identify and target members who have already qualified for a Part D adherence measure and require one final refill to achieve guaranteed adherence through year-end. Proactive reminders and timely engagement help protect performance, while ensuring members remain on therapy as prescribed.
Members who only have one fill for adherence measures and need only one more fill to qualify and become guaranteed adherent should also be a high priority for outreach. At the same time, monitor members who are approaching the end of the year without a qualifying fill, as they may become classified as guaranteed nonadherent and lead to noncompliance with measures for the plan year.
The second half of the year is still yours to shape
By midyear, plans have enough data to see where performance is headed—but they also have time to influence where it ends. The decisions made during Q3 and Q4 can help protect Star Ratings performance this year while strengthening the strategies that will be even more important in 2027.
Rather than waiting until year-end to evaluate results, use the second half of the measurement year to identify remaining opportunities and take action while there’s still time to improve outcomes.
Looking to strengthen your Star Ratings strategy? AdhereHealth helps Medicare Advantage plans identify opportunities earlier, improve quality measure performance and prepare for evolving CMS requirements.
Contact us to learn how we can help your plan finish 2026 strong and prepare for 2027.
Authored by:
Ryan Dacus
Vice President of Product Development and Implementations, AdhereHealth
