Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Achieves High Performance Scores from Federal Government for Medicare Offerings

Eagan, Minn. (October 11, 2017) – Today Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and Blue Plus (Blue Cross) is announcing an increase in the company's overall score for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Star Rating. For 2018, Blue Cross achieved a 5-Star rating out of five stars on the Platinum Blue^SM Cost plan and a 4.5-Star rating out of five stars on the SecureBlue^SM Minnesota Senior Health Option plan. Blue Cross' Platinum Blue plan is the only medical and drug coverage plan in Minnesota to receive a 5-Star rating for 2018.

The CMS Five-Star Quality Star Rating System scores Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug (Part D) plans on a series of performance and clinical measures, including quality of care, member experience, health plan administration and customer service. Ratings range from one to five stars, with five being the highest. 2018 Star Ratings are based on services and care members received in 2016.

Blue Cross established an internal Medicare Stars Center of Excellence in 2015 to drive improvement in the company's ratings for its Cost and MSHO plans. Since then, the Medicare Stars Center for Excellence has worked to develop and integrate improvements in health provider engagement, member engagement, health improvement programs, administrative excellence and data analytics.

"Blue Cross' mission to make a healthy difference in people's lives is at the heart of everything we do," said Stacia Cohen, vice president for the Medicare Stars Center of Excellence. "By focusing our efforts on helping our Medicare members achieve the best possible health outcomes, our priorities naturally align with the measures that comprise the Star rating."

Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system. Star Ratings are calculated each year and may change from one year to the next. Star Ratings are posted at www.medicare.gov. More information about Blue Cross' Medicare plans can be found at www.bluecrossmn.com/medicare.