Remote Surveillance Trailer in South San Francisco, CA

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Kaiser Permanente Northern California's Medicare and commercial health plans are also the highest rated in California, according to NCQA

Based on national assessments of overall patient experience and clinical quality, Kaiser Permanente Northern California is once again recognized as having the highest-rated health plans in California and among the highest in the nation.

Kaiser Permanente’s Medicare and commercial health plans in Northern California each received 5 out of 5 stars – the highest rating possible, according to the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) 2025 Health Plan Ratings. This is the 10th ratings period that Kaiser Permanente Northern California has received this designation.

Nationally, only 11 health plans are rated 5 stars. NCQA also ranks Kaiser Permanente Northern California health plans as best in the state for treatment outcomes and prevention efforts.

“These national ratings speak to the high-quality care Kaiser Permanente Northern California provides to its members and patients every day and our efforts to improve health care outcomes,” said Mike Bowers, FACHE, interim president of Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region. “Our focus on treatment, prevention, and an overall exceptional patient care experience is why our health plans are recognized as best in the state and among the top health plans nationally.”

For 2025, NCQA rated nearly 1,000 plans – commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid – for quality and service nationwide. All of Kaiser Permanente’s commercial and Medicare plans received the highest rating, or were tied for the highest rating, in all the geographic regions we serve. Kaiser Permanente had more 5-star or 4.5-star plans than any other health care organization for the tenth ratings cycle in a row.

“Our highly-skilled clinicians are consistently delivering world-class, high-value care to our patients,” said Maria Ansari, MD, FACC, CEO and executive director of The Permanente Medical Group. “We continue to be recognized as a national leader because of our commitment to driving better health results through innovation, evidence-based treatments, and patient-centered care.”

NCQA is a national, private not-for-profit organization that surveys health plans for performance in a wide range of clinical service measures including consumer experience, prevention, population health, and treatment.

NCQA primarily used the 2024 Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set, or HEDIS®, to establish its ratings. HEDIS is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care.

The 2025 ratings and methodology are posted on the NCQA’s website at https://reportcards.ncqa.org/health-plans.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — For the third week in a row, Golden Gate Park is hosting a major live music event. First, it was Dead & Company, and then came Outside Lands. This Friday, Zach Bryan, with special guests Kings of Leon, Turnpike Troubadours and Noeline Hofmann, will perform at the park’s Polo Field.

Concertgoers are urged to ditch their cars for in favor of alternative transportation due to limited parking.

“We highly recommend using alternative transportation options like event shuttles, rideshares, Muni, BART, walking, scooters, or bikes as the smoothest and most stress-free way to get to the shows,” concert officials said.

“Doors” open at 1:30 p.m. Friday, with the concert getting underway at 3 p.m., according to concert officials.

Planning on an early exit from work to catch the show? Here are some transportation options:

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) announced Thursday that Muni service will be expanded for the concert. Details of which are available here.

There will also be taxi stands, passenger loading zones near the entrances, and an active transportation hub at the event itself, which will include bike parking as well as bike and scooter-share services, according to SFMTA.

There are three shuttle passes: local (Downtown SF – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium) for $27.50; park & ride (South of SF – Cow Palace) for $42.50, and regional (Sacramento). The “regional” pass is sold out as of Thursday, though there’s a waitlist.

VIP parking at the event is also sold out.

“We STRONGLY recommend that you do not drive to the event,” stated Golden Gate Park Concert officials. “Parking is extremely limited in the surrounding neighborhoods, reserved for residents, and strictly enforced.”

For those planning on riding a bike, there will be free self-park bicycle parking areas located around the event site. Bike parking is available during event hours.

Additional “What to Know Before You Go” concert information is available here.

To purchase tickets to the concert, go here.