CMS’ Latest Hospital Compare Data Show Decline in Five-Star Ratings
Last week, CMS updated the star ratings on its Hospital Compare website, showing a decrease in the number of five-star hospitals, Becker's Infection Control & Clinical Quality reports (Punke, Becker's Infection Control & Clinical Quality, 10/13).
Background
In April, the agency released its first five-star ratings for hospitals as part of a broader effort to offer star ratings on all of its consumer-facing Compare websites. The new hospital rating system will offer a star rating based on the 11 publicly reported measures in the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey, which assesses patient experiences (California Healthline, 4/17).
How Hospitals Fared
The updated ratings are based on HCAHPS survey results for the reporting period from Jan. 1, 2014, through Dec. 31, 2014 (Becker's Infection Control & Clinical Quality, 10/13). CMS plans to update the rankings every quarter (California Healthline, 4/17).
In total, CMS awarded five-star ratings to 207 -- or about 6% -- Medicare-certified acute-care hospitals of the 3,539 eligible hospitals, down from 336 of the 3,548 eligible hospitals in July. In addition:
- 1,087 hospitals, about 31%, received four stars;
- 1,531 hospitals, about 43%, received three stars;
- 638 hospitals, about 18%, received two stars;
- 76 hospitals, about 2%, received one star.
CMS did not rate 1,092 hospitals because it lacked adequate patient experience data during the survey period (Becker's Infection Control & Clinical Quality, 10/13).
This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.