OREANDA-NEWS. September 22, 2016. Kaiser Permanente Hawaii received the state’s top ratings for its Medicaid, Medicare and commercial health plans by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), a leading independent health care quality assurance organization. The NCQA Commercial, Medicare and Medicaid Insurance Plan Ratings are a five-point rating system based on patient experience, treatment outcomes and prevention efforts.

Kaiser Permanente’s Medicare score of 5 is the highest rated plan in Hawaii, and one of only 8 Medicare plans nationwide to receive a top score. Its Medicaid plan was one of two plans in the country to receive the highest rating of 5, placing it in the top 1 percent of 491 plans in the nation. Kaiser Permanente’s commercial plan received a rating of 4.5, one of the top scores in Hawaii.

“We are honored to be recognized by NCQA as the No. 1 health plan in Hawaii and a top health plan in the nation,” said Mary Ann Barnes, RN, president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals Hawaii Region. “Our coordinated and integrated model of care helps our members receive services where and when they need it, resulting in better outcomes and higher patient satisfaction.”

Including NCQA ranking data from previous years, 2016 marks the ninth year in a row that Kaiser Permanente’s commercial plan has received top marks in the state, and the 12th year its Medicare and Medicaid plans were recognized as the No. 1 health plan in Hawaii.

The NCQA Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2016–2017 is based on combined scores of Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®); the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®); and NCQA Accreditation standard scores. The new rating methodology classifies plans into scores from 1–5 in 0.5 increments based on consumer experience, preventive measures and treatment outcomes, in a system similar to Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ 5-Star Quality Rating System.

Complete results are available at www.ncqa.org.

About National Committee for Quality Assurance
NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA’s Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care.

About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has provided total health to the people of Hawaii for nearly 60 years, with physicians who are members of the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, the largest multi-specialty physician group practice in the state of Hawaii. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. Visit kp.org for additional information. Become a fan of good health with Kaiser Permanente Hawaii: Like our page at Facebook.com/KPHawaii and follow @KPHawaii on Twitter.