Medicare Releases First-Ever Hospital Compare Star Ratings

On April 16, 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) upgraded its Hospital Compare website to add summary star ratings to reflect the quality of patient experiences. The Hospital Compare star ratings are based on data from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey (HCAHPS) measures. The ratings range from one star (lowest) to five stars (highest) and take into account physician communication with patients, hospital staff responsiveness to patient needs, pain management, and hospital cleanliness.

All hospitals that participate in the HCAHPS Survey are eligible to receive HCAHPS Star Ratings, which includes both Inpatient . . .