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Sept 2008
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CMS to Rate Nursing Home Quality with New “Five-Star” System
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will soon launch a groundbreaking ranking system of America’s nursing homes, giving each a “star” rating from one to five.
“More than three million Americans rely on services provided by a nursing home at some point during the year. The new “five-star” rating system will provide a composite view of the quality and safety information currently on Nursing Home Compare to help beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily,” said Kerry Weems, CMS acting administrator.
Through its consumer information Web sites, CMS will closely follow the agency’s first nationwide identification of chronically underperforming nursing homes. Facilities enrolled in what is called the Special Focus Facility (SFF) initiative are placed under special scrutiny and undergo twice as many inspections as other homes. The “SFF” designation was recently added to the Nursing Home Compare Web site at www.medicare.gov/NHCompare.
Last year, CMS also initiated a star rating system for health and prescription drug plans that are available to Medicare beneficiaries.
“Nursing Home Compare’s new rating system will provide an incentive for nursing homes to strive toward earning a five-star rating by providing an environment of better quality care,” Weems said. This new rating system is rooted in the tradition of the OBRA’87 nursing home reform law and quality improvement campaigns such as the Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes, a collaborative coalition of consumers, health care providers, labor, and nursing home professionals.
“While Nursing Home Compare is very informative, it is important to note that this should be just one of the tools that family members and caregivers use in the selection of a nursing home,” Weems said. “There is no substitute for visiting a nursing home in person and meeting with staff, residents, and other families.”
The publication, “A Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home,” can also be found on the site. The publication provides information about the types of long-term care, local nursing home comparisons, and how to pay for nursing home care.
The five-star rating system will be published in December 2008. A sample screen shot of the proposed star ratings is available at www.cms.hhs.gov/PressContacts/ 10_PR_fivestar.asp. Medicare Compare can be found at www.medicare.gov