On July 27, 2016, the Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings were released on Medicare’s Hospital Compare website.  The Star Ratings represent a summary compilation of individual hospital performance on 64 measures designated by CMS to represent the quality of care delivered at over 4,000 Medicare-certified hospitals. Star ratings are on a scale of one to five, with a five-star rating being the best.

Medicare’s instructions to patients regarding how to use the Hospital Compare website describe the ratings as one factor to be taken into account by patients when determining where to seeK non-emergent care.

According to Medicare, the purpose of the star ratings is to not only provide a tool to consumers, but also to encourage hospitals to improve the quality of care that they provide.  Industry groups and others have criticized the rating system for a lack of transparency, as well as failure to take into account different hospital types for purposes of compiling the comparative information.  CMS delayed release of the information in Spring 2016 following letters signed by 60 Senators and 225 members of the House of Representatives urging reconsideration of the ratIngs system.  CMS was not convinced to extend the delay, however, despite a bill introduced on July 26, 2016 to prevent release of the Star Ratings for another year.

The CMS Compare sites are the official sites for information published by Medicare regarding the quality of health care providers. Quality of care ratings for nursing homes, home health, dialysis facilities, group practices, and other health professionals have previously been issued by CMS on the Compare websites and can be accessed here.