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One emerging theme in the 2026 Star Ratings? Falls are in focus for CMS. It’s not just through 'C15: Reducing the Risk of Falling,' one of the worst-performing measures in Part C for 5 years running. It’s also through what’s coming: triple-weighted HOS measures for physical and mental health, plus new Part D measures that focus on the adverse effects of mismanaged medications. Add it all up and it’s clear: plans trying to reduce total cost of care, improve HOS scores, and unlock bonus payments should get serious about their falls strategy. What might that look like? Making the very most of data, analytics, and year-round engagement to engage members of all ability levels. Check out Bold’s latest resource for Stars teams at the link ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eJ88Bnwi

I’m speaking at HLTH Inc. next week about tech, aging, and the power of balance (aka maintaining independence, function and healthspan). For older people, falls are often where healthspan and lifespan diverge. Today, Medicare spends more on falls than it does on cancer. We have copious amounts of research on how to prevent falls with education and exercise, but our real issue has been following through. The falls recommendations from the USPSTF are the only A- or B-rated guidance that isn’t fully covered by Medicare plans. That’s a huge miss — we spend more than $80 billion every year just on falls, and removing barriers to prevention is necessary to bring down costs. Falls and closely-related issues like physical activity, isolation and urinary incontinence, are increasingly becoming a financial problem for MA plans, as these are persistently low performing measures for Star ratings. But we won’t be able to solve this with a point solution, we need to commit to redesigning how we support patients and members as they age. We have to get serious about prevention, because prevention is what allows us to protect our ability to pursue what brings us joy and purpose as we age. I’m excited to talk about how Bold helps MA plans reach members sooner with a tech-forward, affordable model of care that prevents falls and, just as importantly, improves overall quality of life. Looking forward to sharing this vision with everyone in Las Vegas. If you’re in town and excited about prevention, shoot me a DM and let’s talk! #HLTH #PowerofBalance Grace Vinton Timothy Puri Edward Likovich, PhD Dr. Amy Hester PhD,RN,BC,FAAN

Higher weights mean higher stakes for Star Ratings. And that’s especially true for the HOS. But with its focus on self-reported outcomes and changes to physical and mental health over time, along with regulations around survey communication, the puzzle of what actually works to educate and engage members tied to the HOS measures is a hard one to solve. We’ve got you. We’ve been cracking the code and are sharing some of our HOS-some secret sauce in our latest guide, including: ➡️How to make the business case for greater HOS investment ➡️Strategic blueprint for what works and what doesn’t in driving HOS performance ➡️Practical tips & strategies tied to each measure ➡️Calendar year-round action plan with a template with practical tips for leveling up member engagement Get the guide here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eaGehRJN 

Right on schedule (never in doubt 😅), the 2026 Star Ratings have been published. One quick takeaway? Plans are getting hammered by the Health Outcomes Survey. It’s the same old story — for years, HOS-derived measures have lagged Part C performance by 15% or more. With HOS-MCH and PCH tripling in weights for next year, HOS can no longer be an afterthought for plans. If HOS is in focus for you in 2027, don't wait. Reach out to the Bold team to discuss how you can turn the HOS into a strategic advantage.

Bold will be cooking up something HOS-some at the NCQA Health Innovation Summit on October 13. Swing by booth 226 to meet the team breaking down the siloes between Stars and clinical teams to make aging well more possible — and more fun — for seniors across the country. We’re also hosting a happy hour with our friends at Sprinter Health. Reach out to Anima Banks, Ben Sommers or Zack Newick to secure your spot. See you in San Diego 😎

An emphasis on prevention underpins the new Rural Health Transformation program. At Bold, we have partnered with innovative payers and providers to engage homebound and mobility-limited seniors with our exercise and education platform, reducing costly falls and hospital admissions. We are experienced reaching members in all contexts, with a technology-led solution that tailors programming to each individual. CMS is hosting webinars this week and next for more on the program. Links to those, and to the just-released NOFO, in the comments. #makeamericahealthyagain

Prevention is the name of the game when it comes to older-adult fractures, says Dr. Carol Lin, Director of the Geriatric Fracture and Bone Health Programs at Cedars-Sinai. She shares how she counsels her patients to begin strength and balance training, how fractures change as we age, and the best steps to take to promote long-term bone health.

RISE West wrapped just before the long weekend — and after a chance to recharge, one theme stands out: health plans need solutions that drive quality and clinical outcomes. While HOS measures continue to gain weight and complexity, many teams still feel unclear on how to actually move them. Meanwhile, fitness is still treated as a perk, not as a strategic lever. But when designed for the realities of aging, movement can drive gains in the exact measures that plans find confusing and hard to move. Especially when a fitness program is personalized to chronic conditions and barriers, engaging for members who don’t traditionally participate, and clinically rigorous with measurable outcomes and data. That’s the conversation we’re excited to keep pushing forward: movement as medicine, delivered in a way that drives Stars, retention, and total cost of care performance. Huge thanks to Jenn Kerfoot, Rafi Cices, and the entire #RISEWest team for creating such a thoughtful and energizing agenda. Onward to #NCQA in October!

Bold is partnering with Mass Advantage to bring our personalized exercise and education platform to Massachusetts seniors. With HOS-derived measures related to falls, urinary incontinence, and physical and mental health growing increasingly important for Star Ratings, Mass Advantage has chosen Bold for our unique approach to engaging older people in their health while driving key quality-related outcomes. The result? Members have taken more than 2,000 classes since launch this summer, allowing Bold to drive continuous, high-value engagement for the plan. Mass Advantage members have received an average of more than 14 Stars-related touchpoints since the program’s inception. We’re proud to support the healthy aging journeys of Massachusetts older adults, and to work with innovative, forward-thinking plans like Mass Advantage that have placed quality at the center of their strategy. Read more about the partnership at the link in comments. https://lnkd.in/ga5HBBy4

This Wednesday, Bold’s Clinical Manager, Claire Hsing, PT, DPT, SCS, will be the featured speaker in a special UCLA Longevity Center webinar on building safe, sustainable movement habits later in life. Claire will share evidence-based strategies on preventing injury through smart pacing, building confidence and consistency, and supporting long-term habit formation in older adults with chronic conditions. This event is part of the Longevity Center’s broader mission to support healthy aging — and we’re proud to be part of that effort. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gQzSahbA