The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) recently released its annual ranking of 484 U.S. health plans. HealthPartners’ plan ranked first in Minnesota and in the top six percent in the country.
 
The NCQA—a privately held, Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization—evaluated nearly 1,400 plans throughout the country based on roughly 50 measures of clinical performance and member satisfaction.
 
Based on those measures, the health plans that publicly report their quality information were scored on a scale of one through 100 (100 being the best.) Click here for the full methodology.
 
The Bloomington-based health care provider’s HMO/PPO plan received an overall score of 87.1. On a five-point scale, the plan earned a four in customer satisfaction, a four in prevention, and a five in treatment. The plan performed among the highest 10 percent of health plans in preventative care, diabetic care, heart disease prevention and care, and behavioral health care, among other areas.

 
The ranking marks the ninth consecutive year HealthPartners’ plan has appeared as the highest-performing plan in Minnesota.
 
HealthPartners ranked 30th in the country but was only 2.9 points behind the leader, although, this was a drop from its 28th ranking last year.
 
“Earning the number one spot among health plans in Minnesota and placing in the top six percent nationally is an honor because it means we are delivering on our goal to improve the health and well-being of our members,” President and CEO Mary Brainerd said in a statement. “The NCQA’s rankings are not only a great affirmation of our work, but a reminder that success comes when we make our members’ priorities our own: improved health, a great experience, and affordability.”
 
Other Minnesota health plans that appeared on the list include: Medica (which ranked second in the state and 82nd in the U.S.) with a score of 83.9; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota (third in the state, 133 in the U.S.) with a score of 82.8; PreferredOne Community Health Plan (fourth in the state, 213 in the U.S.) with a score of 81.6; and Aetna Life Insurance (fifth in the state, 321 in the U.S.) with a score of 80.1.
 
Wellesley, Massachusetts-based Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Inc., ranked first on NCQA’s list with a score of 90.0. Portland, Oregon-based Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest came in second with a score of 89.8 and Boston-based Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts HMO Blue, Inc., came in third with a score of 89.6. Click here for the full list.
 
Earlier this month, Twin Cities Business asked Brainerd to discuss her opinion of local business over the course of the last 20 years. Click here to read the story.
 
After merging with Park Nicollet earlier this year, HealthPartners’ care system now consists of more than 1,700 physicians, five hospitals, 52 primary care clinics, 22 urgent care locations, and multiple specialty practices in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. The care provider is among Minnesota’s 15 largest employers.