MA STARS Act
Revises Medicare Advantage’s 5-star ratings by changing which measures count and requiring expert reviews and annual public reports.
In two House committees since Sept. 21, 2026, 14 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 21, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- SENATESENATE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Medicare Advantage contracts receive ratings through a federal 5-star system. The MA STARS Act would change which measures count toward those ratings starting in the 2031 contract year. It would also have expert panels review surveys and scoring methods and require annual public reports about ratings and excluded measures.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Change which measures count toward ratings
Starting with the 2031 contract year, Medicare Advantage ratings would exclude measures the Secretary finds unrelated to clinical quality, patient outcomes, or patient experience; not reasonably attributable to the plan or its delegated entities; based on surveys that fail specified standards; or no longer useful for distinguishing plans. Newly added measures could count only if they relate to clinical quality, patient outcomes, or patient experience. Measures removed because they no longer distinguish plans would remain publicly reported as display-only measures.
- Review surveys and rating methods
HHS would establish two expert panels: one to recommend statistically sound beneficiary surveys and another to recommend changes to how measure cut points and overall ratings are determined. Each panel would solicit stakeholder feedback and public comment, and submit recommendations within two years after enactment.
- Publish annual ratings reports
For the 2031 contract year and each later year, HHS would publish the distribution of overall ratings and explain the methods used to set cut points and assign ratings. The report would list excluded measures and explain why each was excluded, including relevant data or analysis as HHS determines appropriate.
- Include a range of panel perspectives
The expert panels would include balanced representation from relevant stakeholders and experts, such as beneficiaries, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, survey experts, and Medicare Advantage organizations with different sizes, ownership structures, service areas, and delivery models.
The bill frames the rating system as a way to assess Medicare Advantage contract performance. It aims for ratings to reflect clinical quality, patient outcomes, and patient experience, and describes its proposed scoring review as a way to reward performance and promote competition.
The rating rules affect which measures shape a contract’s overall rating and what information the public sees about that rating. The bill would also require HHS to explain excluded measures and the reasons for excluding them.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 21, 2026HOUSESEP 21, 2026By Rep. KellyReferred to Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means
- SAME DAYNOWHouse committeesSEP 21, 2026ENERGY & COMMERCE · WAYS & MEANS NOWSEP 21, 2026In committee for 14 daysNo hearing yet
- 14 DAYS SO FARPassed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Senate committee—SENATE—
- Passed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 212026SEP 21, 2026REFERREDReferred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- SEP 212026SEP 21, 2026INTRODUCEDHOUSEIntroduced in House
At day 14, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
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