CMS Releases Quality Ratings for U.S. Nursing Homes

KaiserNetwork reports that CMS will post online (12/18) the quality ratings of 16,000 individual nursing homes across the U.S. based on a one- to five-star scale. The ratings are based on data from state inspections, reports on staffing and quality measures. The homes received stars for each category and for overall quality. Overall ratings, which will be posted online at www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare/, mostly were based on how well homes scored on staffing and on 10 quality measures — including how homes respond to a patient’s declining mobility, high-risk bed sores and pain. To receive a five-star rating on staffing, registered nurses and other nursing staff must provide at least four hours of care per patient daily.