2027 Medicare Advantage Strategy: What Plans Are Changing Now for 2029 Stars

What should Medicare Advantage plans change now to improve performance in 2027 and prepare for the 2029 Star Ratings? In this episode of Bright Spots in Healthcare, leaders from Zing Health, CDPHP, UPMC Health Plan and MedOrionshare how MA plans are acting earlier, prioritizing limited resources, improving Stars and quality performance, and reducing reliance on the traditional fourth-quarter scramble. The discussion gets practical: how plans are using existing data sooner, turning clinical insights into action, coordinating with providers, reaching harder-to-engage members, and deciding where limited engagement resources can have the greatest impact. Download the Episode Resources Episode Guide Key takeaways and practical lessons from the conversation: https://www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Podcast-Episode-Guide-Bright-Spots-in-Health-Care-Medorion-09-24-26.pdf Key Insights Summary Guest takeaways, discussion highlights and Eric Glazer's moderator notes: https://www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Key-Insights-Summary-Bright-Spots-09-24-26.pdf Request MedOrion's report: Removing the Blindspot: Making HOS and CAHPS the Advantage Contact Nicole Roberts at nroberts@brightspotsventures.com. Featured Medicare Advantage Leaders

• Daniel Weaver, Senior Vice President, Stars and Quality, Zing Health
• Michael Farina, Vice President, Healthcare Quality, CDPHP
• Mariah Osborn, Director, Medicare Stars, UPMC Health Plan
• David Burianek, Chief Strategy Officer, MedOrion

What You'll Learn This conversation explores how Medicare Advantage plans are rethinking the operating model behind Stars, quality and member engagement for 2027 and beyond, including:

• How existing knowledge about returning members can support action before the first HEDIS results arrive

• How CDPHP uses natural language processing to reduce clinical review time while expanding the number of measures reviewed

• What it takes to identify time-sensitive member events, coordinate follow-up and reduce duplicate outreach

• Why addressing a member's immediate need can build the trust required for future engagement

• How community relationships and member feedback help plans understand why care is not happening

• How benefit communications can help resolve questions before changes disrupt care or increase service demand

Featured Resource: Removing the Blindspot

MedOrion's report, Removing the Blindspot: Making HOS and CAHPS the Advantage, explores how Medicare Advantage plans can build a more coordinated approach to member engagement across the year.

The report examines:

• HOS and CAHPS strategy

• Harder-to-engage Medicare Advantage members

• Earlier clinical information

• Member barriers including access, transportation, confusion and trust

• Annual Notices of Change

• Annual wellness visits

• Next-best-action strategies

• Governance across Stars, quality and member engagement

• How plans can make limited resources go further

To request a copy, contact Nicole Roberts at nroberts@brightspotsventures.com.

About MedOrion

MedOrion combines technology with hands-on expertise to help health plans improve Medicare Advantage, Stars, HEDIS and quality performance with limited resources.

Its approach helps plans determine where additional engagement can make a difference, where it may not be needed, and how to turn those decisions into action.

Learn more: https://medorion.com/

Connect With MedOrion

To explore how MedOrion can help your team prioritize engagement resources and build a more coordinated approach to Stars and quality performance, contact Nicole Roberts at nroberts@brightspotsventures.com to schedule a conversation with a senior MedOrion leader.

Panelist Bios

https://www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com/events/from-chart-chase-to-competitive-advantage-the-2027-medicare-advantage-playbook/

About Bright Spots in Healthcare

Bright Spots in Healthcare brings together health plan, health system and healthcare innovation leaders to share practical examples of what is working — and how others can apply and scale those ideas.

Bright Spots Ventures creates healthcare content, executive communities, private peer discussions and go-to-market programs designed to accelerate meaningful change.

Learn more: https://www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com/

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