The UCLA Medical Group has received recognition for providing high-quality care to patients enrolled in Medicare Advantage private health plans for Medicare beneficiaries.
UCLA Medical Group’s Santa Monica Bay Physicians network was awarded 4.5 out of 5 stars by the Integrated Healthcare Association, a statewide non-profit that aims to enhance quality and affordability. The rating rose from four stars to 4.5 stars, which earned a most improved rating.
Among the 13 clinical quality measurements used to calculate the Integrated Health Care Association quality measurement were rates of breast and colorectal cancer screenings, eye exams and blood sugar control for patients with diabetes, and managing osteoporosis in women with a previous bone fracture.
The ratings – reflecting care provided in 2015 – are intended to gauge how well physician organizations provided recommended care to the more than 2 million California seniors and people with disabilities enrolled in Medicare Advantage health maintenance organizations.
Of the 186 physician organizations that were evaluated, UCLA’s Santa Monica Bay Physicians was among 58 that received at least 4.5 stars or higher. An IHA fact sheet has more information on methodology.
“We are proud of the care we provide to Medicare Advantage patients,” said Dr. Samuel Skootsky, chief medical officer of the UCLA Faculty Practice Group and Medical Group. “This recognition reflects UCLA’s commitment to our patients and our ability to measure what we do and continually improve the quality of care.”
UCLA’s Santa Monica Bay Physicians network is a component of the UCLA Medical Group. It provides primary and specialty care primarily for patients in Westside communities and Santa Monica.
The ratings build on the Medicare Advantage star ratings for health plans. Collecting data on the physician organization level allows IHA to combine data from the six participating health plans — Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Health Net, Kaiser Permanente, SCAN Health Plan and United Healthcare — to identify performance variations that can help plans and physician organizations target quality improvement efforts.
“Through Medicare Advantage Stars quality measurement, we recognize physician organizations that are committed to providing integrated care that helps make sure their patients get important recommended care,” said Dr. Jeffrey Rideout, IHA President and CEO.
The UCLA Medical Group includes approximately 1,500 faculty physicians of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, as well as affiliate physicians.
UCLA Health includes four hospitals on two campuses — Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center; UCLA Health - Santa Monica Medical Center; UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital; and Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA — and more than 160 primary care and specialty clinics throughout Southern California. UCLA Health ranks #1 in Los Angeles, #1 in California and #5 in the nation in U.S. News & World Report’s 2016-17 Best Hospitals survey.
