Scripps Clinic, Scripps Coastal Receive Statewide Quality Awards

Scripps Clinic Medical Group and Scripps Coastal Medical Group were recently recognized for providing high-quality care to Medicare Advantage patients by the Integrated Healthcare Association (IHA). The statewide nonprofit recognizes high-value, integrated care that improves quality and affordability for patients.

Modeled on the five-star rating system for health plans, IHA uses 13 clinical quality measures to collect performance data and assign star ratings to 186 physician organizations based on how well they provided recommended care in 2015 to more than 2 million California seniors and people with disabilities enrolled in Medicare Advantage health maintenance organizations (HMOs). Each year, IHA recognizes physician organizations that achieve a 4.5- or five-star rating.

High-quality care

Scripps Clinic Medical Group and Scripps Coastal Medical Group each attained a 4.5-star rating for 2016-17, based on care provided to Medicare Advantage patients in 2015.

The presidents of the two Scripps medical groups welcomed the recognition.

“Scripps Clinic Medical Group is committed to performance measurement and quality improvement, and we are proud to be recognized for the high-quality care we provide to our Medicare Advantage patients,” said Richard Walker, MD, president of Scripps Clinic Medical Group.

Kevin Hirsch, MD, president of Scripps Coastal Medical Group, echoed the sentiments. “We are dedicated to building on this performance to further benefit our patients in the future,” Dr. Hirsch said.

Medicare Advantage star quality

IHA President and CEO Jeffrey Rideout, MD, said the Medicare Advantage Stars quality measurements recognize physician organizations that provide integrated care that helps make sure their patients get important recommended care.

“We believe California is the only state in the country providing overall Medicare Advantage star quality ratings at the physician organization level, and we applaud all California physician organizations for leading the way in making health care quality more transparent.”

Clinical quality measures used to calculate the star ratings range from rates of breast and colorectal cancer screenings to eye exams and blood sugar control for patients with diabetes to managing osteoporosis in women with a previous fracture. Collecting these measures at the physician organization level allows IHA to combine data from the six participating health plans to identify performance variations that can help plans and physician organizations target quality improvement efforts. 

Along with recognizing high-performing physician organizations, IHA partners with the California Office of the Patient Advocate (OPA) to use the physician organization star ratings to report publicly on the quality of care for people enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans. The 2016-17 edition of the OPA Medical Group Medicare Report Card was also released today. An IHA fact sheet has more information on the Medicare Advantage 5-Star Rating System for California Physician Organizations. OPA also recognized Scripps Clinic Medical Group and Scripps Coastal Medical Group for achieving 4.5 star ratings.

Learn more about Scripps Health, a nonprofit integrated health system in San Diego, Calif.