GiftCard Partners Blog

Managed care organizations (MCOs) often face significant challenges in encouraging members to complete preventative health screenings. Ensuring compliance with critical screenings—such as breast cancer checks, hearing tests, and dental visits—not only improves patient outcomes but also directly impacts program success and HEDIS Star ratings. 

What if there was a powerful tool that could significantly enhance Medicare member participation and satisfaction? The 14th Medicare Star Ratings, HEDIS^®, Quality & Risk event emphasizes the critical role of both member and provider engagement. This article explores the power of gift cards as incentives to boost Medicare member engagement, providing practical solutions and real-world examples to illustrate their effectiveness. 

Healthcare organizations focused on improving health plan member engagement face a familiar challenge: members often do not complete the visits and screenings needed to close care gaps. Missed primary care visits, telehealth appointments, and in-home assessments limit the effectiveness of preventive care and chronic condition management programs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic diseases remain the leading cause of illness and healthcare spending in the United States, making consistent care engagement essential¹. Strategic incentives tied to specific clinical actions can help motivate members to follow through with the care they need.

As of January 2022 62.8% of eligible Americans have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This milestone is significant and essential to help protect the nation’s health. Unfortunately, studies show that vaccination rates for the low-income Medicaid population are lower than that of the general population.

Continually improving member engagement, care, and health outcomes are vital for the success of healthcare providers’ programs. Engaged members lead to reduced hospitalizations, readmissions, and improved Star Ratings. When members do not utilize plan benefits, miss appointments, and are unengaged, Star Ratings plummet resulting in a direct impact on the funding providers are able to receive. Low Star Ratings can also cause members to switch to higher star-scored healthcare plans.