Medicare’s Health Star Measures Show Early Signs Of Improvement In Quality Outcomes

In the first four years after Medicare introduced the home health agency (HHA) star rating system for the quality of care, a claims analysis found that care initiation was slower, and hospitalization rates during an episode increased by 0.39% per year. During the same period, HHAs reported that beneficiaries had greater functional improvement in ambulation, bed transferring and bathing.

Medicare launched the HHA quality star rating program on January 1, 2016. The ratings are based on the quality of care and beneficiary satisfaction with HHA services.

After the star ratings were introduced, over the . . .