How to read a Stars report without mixing years
A practical guide to Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings: what they measure, how to read them, and where improvement begins.
Create an identity line
Write the contract identifier, contract type, Star Year, report publication date, and source at the top of your working copy. Keep a separate date for the data extract. Two reports that look different may describe different populations or periods.
Separate published results from working estimates
Use separate columns for the published CMS result, your reconciled internal rate, and the forward-looking scenario. Add a note when a denominator changes. A clean separation makes it easier to explain why a current worklist differs from an annual rating.
Ask what can actually change
For each weak result, name the data owner and operational owner. Is the immediate problem missing evidence, delayed claims, an unresolved access issue, or an opportunity for appropriate care? Assign the next investigation before choosing an intervention.
Make uncertainty visible
Record missing measures and unverified assumptions alongside the headline. A reviewer should be able to tell whether a number is complete without reading a footnote elsewhere. Revisit the record when CMS publishes a corrected file or your data changes.
Take this to your next review
Bring a dated source, the assumption you are using, the person responsible for the next action, and the evidence you will review. Keep official methodology separate from local planning choices.
Reference desk
These resources support the program context. The workflow above is AdherenceStar’s suggested practice, not a CMS-mandated procedure.
CMS · 2026 Star Ratings fact sheet ↗