Managed Care·September 21, 2026

Safety Net Health Plans Achieve Record Performance in NCQA Quality Ratings

Safety Net Health Plans, members of the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), achieved record performance in the National Committee for Quality Assurance's (NCQA) 2026 health plan ratings. The announcement, released September 21, 2026, indicates improved quality measures among plans serving predominantly Medicaid and dual-eligible populations. These ratings affect star ratings, quality bonus payments, and auto-enrollment assignments for Medicaid managed care plans. The results suggest safety net plans—which disproportionately serve low-income and complex populations—are closing quality gaps with commercial-focused plans.

Why it matters

Higher NCQA scores translate directly to increased quality bonus payments, favorable auto-enrollment, and stronger competitive positioning for Medicaid MCOs in state procurements and contract renewals.

Managed Care

Read the full article at communityplans.net →

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