UnitedHealthcare Wins Lawsuit, Forces CMS to Recalculate 2025 Medicare Advantage Star Ratings

UnitedHealthcare emerged victorious in a lawsuit against the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), as a federal judge ordered the recalculation of the insurer's 2025 Medicare Advantage star ratings[1][2]. This decision was grounded in the federal judge's finding that CMS had improperly downgraded UnitedHealthcare's star ratings following an unsuccessful test call, which the court deemed a violation of the Administrative Procedure Act of 1946. The ruling is significant for UnitedHealthcare as these ratings critically affect the plan's membership growth potential and funding, with the court's decision expected to positively impact the company's earnings by approximately $10 million[1][2].