Costs are on the rise while Medicare Star Ratings are on the decline. This includes health plans’ Star Ratings, a system developed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to evaluate and compare the quality of Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. Labor shortages have also affected Star Ratings, as has health plans’ imperfect reporting of health outcomes – sometimes because of their use of outdated technologies for this purpose. A Star Rating Game PlanAs Star Ratings are derived from examining various operations within a health plan, and because every plan has its own unique challenges, insurers will need to come up with their own tailored program to boost their ratings. Beset by financial and other pressures, many health plans have seen their Star Ratings take a costly dip.