Community Health Plans Outperform National Rivals in Quality Ratings

The latest CMS data reveals that over 87 percent of enrollees in ACHP contracts are served by plans earning at least 4 stars, dwarfing the 69 percent seen in competing organizations. Peak Health and Kaiser Permanente stood out among the national field, each achieving the highest possible five-star designation. These results echo the findings from the September 2026 NCQA ratings, where ACHP members captured 13 of the 18 available five-star spots nationwide.

Beyond Medicare, the alliance maintains a distinct advantage in other coverage areas. ACHP members hold every single five-star contract in the Medicaid sector and five of the nine top-rated contracts in commercial coverage. These plans consistently outperformed peers on critical metrics, including diabetes management, prenatal care, and adult immunization rates. ACHP leadership attributes these outcomes to a collaborative model that integrates clinicians directly into the health plan framework, prioritizing patient experience over profit margins.

To further improve transparency, the organization is currently backing the MA STARS Act, introduced by Rep. Mike Kelly. The proposed legislation seeks to modernize federal rating systems, ensuring that future metrics more accurately reflect meaningful patient health outcomes rather than administrative benchmarks.