Strategies for Medicare Health Plans Serving Racial and Ethnic Minorities

The Medicare Managed Care (MMC) Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Study (CAHPS(®)) survey offers an opportunity to examine differences in health plan experiences and patterns of use of services of racial and ethnic minority beneficiaries enrolled in health plans. Analysis of the survey data and review of prior literature indicate significant health disparities and different patterns of health care use by racial and ethnic minorities. Improved measurement of health plan performance in serving minority enrollees, and development of performance improvement strategies, could have the potential to reduce the observed health disparities.