Celebrating 2024 Milestones and Looking to 2025

What to Know About 2025 Medicare Advantage Star Ratings

December 13, 2024

The 2025 Medicare Advantage Star Ratings reflect stricter benchmarks and a heightened focus on patient-reported outcomes and health equity. This article explores the latest trends, including a decline in plans earning top ratings, the increased importance of CAHPS measures, and strategies to improve scores through preventive care, member engagement, and chronic condition management. Learn how innovative approaches can address care gaps and support inclusive, high-quality healthcare delivery.

Ash News

A Dozen Questions with Ash Lab’s Manager, Divya Bharadwaj

December 3, 2024

Meet Divya Bharadwaj, Lab Manager at Ash, in our latest team spotlight! Dive into Divya's eclectic career journey, their love for Diet Coke, Olivia Rodrigo fandom, and unique perspectives on pop culture. Discover how Divya leads operational excellence at Ash Labs, from streamlining processes to championing initiatives like the “Labs World Tour” to enhance quality and collaboration across Ash’s lab network. Learn how they envision a future of seamless communication and teamwork within Ash’s ecosystem. Get inspired by their favorite city spots, admired authors, and more in this engaging Q&A.

Health Plans

What are Star ratings and how do you become a 5 star plan?

October 24, 2024

Medicare Star Ratings evaluate the performance of Medicare Advantage plans based on various quality measures, impacting enrollment, reimbursement, and patient satisfaction. Health plans can improve their star ratings by leveraging health testing to close care gaps, enhance patient engagement, and meet key quality metrics. This leads to improved Medicare effectiveness and increased competitiveness in the market. At-home testing, like that offered by Ash Wellness, plays a vital role in helping health plans achieve 5-star status.

Ash News

Ash announces $10M Series A funding to uplevel at-home health testing to close healthcare gaps for millions

October 17, 2024

Ash raises a $10M Series A to scale at-home health testing programs that close care gaps and bring patients back into critical care cycles. We also welcome two new board members: Julie Smith, Chief Growth Officer at tango, and Jamie Hall, President and CEO at CirrusMD. Additionally, Harry Leider, MD, MBA, joins Ash as Chief Medical Officer.

Health Plans

What to Know About HEDIS Measures for Kidney Health

October 1, 2024

HEDIS measures are essential for tracking and improving kidney health, especially for those with chronic kidney disease (CKD). At-home health testing, like the services offered by Ash Wellness, helps close healthcare gaps by providing accessible and convenient kidney health screenings. This increases early detection rates, supports health plans in meeting HEDIS requirements, and improves overall HEDIS scores. Additionally, addressing kidney health can positively impact other HEDIS measures, such as diabetes management and blood pressure control.

Health Plans

Closing Gaps in Care for Colon Cancer: How FIT Testing Can Help

August 28, 2024

This article explores how gaps in care for colorectal cancer can be closed through the use of FIT (fecal immunochemical test) testing. It explains the importance of colorectal cancer screening and how FIT testing works as a non-invasive, at-home solution provided by Ash Wellness. The article highlights the benefits of FIT testing, such as increased accessibility, higher completion rates, and cost-effectiveness, which help improve HEDIS measures for colorectal cancer screening and ensure timely intervention for patients.