Medicare AdvantageDocumentationMedium impact
Talk with patients now about Health Outcomes Survey topics
BCBS Michigan·MI · Geriatrics, General Practice, Internal Medicine +1 more·Provider News
We identified it
Jul 23, 2026
Summary
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is emphasizing that providers should proactively discuss Health Outcomes Survey (HOS) topics with Medicare Advantage patients during annual wellness visits. The policy focuses on four key areas: physical activity, bladder control, fall prevention, and mental health. This is an informational directive to align patient conversations with HOS questions that impact Star Ratings performance.
Action Required
Immediately: Providers and clinical staff must incorporate HOS discussion topics into annual wellness visit workflows for Medicare Advantage patients. Specific actions: (1) Add bladder control, physical activity, fall prevention, and mental health screening to annual wellness visit templates in the EMR; (2) Ensure providers document discussions about these four topics during visits; (3) Train clinical staff to use informational materials (brochures, PHQ-2/PHQ-9 screening tools) as conversation starters; (4) Billing team should monitor encounter documentation to confirm these topics are being addressed, as many HOS survey questions ask patients whether providers discussed these concerns. Failure to address these topics may negatively impact BCBSM Star Ratings scores. Recommend accessing BCBSM provider training webinars on HOS and Star measures for additional guidance.