Beyond fire drills: Building a stronger Stars strategy for 2028 and beyond

As plans balance Star year 2027 performance with Star year 2028 planning, this episode tackles the operational realities of Stars strategy in real time. Jay Palmer, Medicare Advantage & Stars strategy executive, shares practical advice on member segmentation, provider collaboration, vendor governance, and cross-functional alignment, along with examples from her own experience leading quality programs. Press Ganey’s Jessica Assefa and Phil Collins also dig into what proposed measure changes could mean for future performance and why plans can no longer rely on the same last-minute tactics year after year. It’s a practical discussion for health plan leaders looking to build a more durable, member-centered Stars strategy. Key Themes & Takeaways:Focus on the denominator, not just closing gaps. Understanding who your members are and why gaps exist leads to more effective, targeted interventions. Act early to avoid year-end fire drills. Plans that use early data to guide strategy outperform those relying on last-minute outreach. Alignment across teams, providers, and vendors is critical. Breaking down silos and improving coordination is one of the biggest drivers of Stars performance.