Medicare AdvantageDocumentationMedium impact
CMS Medicare Part D Star Ratings Measure
EmblemHealth·Geriatrics, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine +1 more·Provider News
We identified it
Aug 14, 2026
Summary
CMS has implemented a new Medicare Part D Star Ratings measure (POLY-ACH) that evaluates prescribing patterns for patients 65+ who use two or more anticholinergic medications concurrently. This is an inverse quality measure where lower rates indicate better performance. Practices must ensure anticholinergic medications do not overlap for more than 29 cumulative days per calendar year to avoid negative Star Ratings impact.
Action Required
Providers and clinical staff must immediately review prescribing protocols for patients age 65 and older to identify concurrent anticholinergic medication use. By the end of Q4 2026: (1) Implement clinical review process to identify patients with overlapping anticholinergic prescriptions; (2) Educate prescribing providers on POLY-ACH measure goals using the provided CMS tip sheet (reference JP72487); (3) Establish staggered dosing protocols to ensure any dual anticholinergic therapy does not exceed 29 cumulative days overlap per calendar year; (4) Update EHR templates or clinical decision support to flag concurrent anticholinergic use during prescribing. Billing team should monitor Star Ratings reports for this measure and coordinate with clinical leadership. Failure to manage this measure will negatively impact Medicare Advantage Star Ratings, potentially affecting plan rankings and member enrollment.