CMS star ratings not linked to surgical outcomes

Editor's Note

High Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings were not associated with improved patient outcomes in advanced laparoscopic abdominal surgery, this study finds.

Morbidity at low-star hospitals was higher for colorectal surgery but not for bariatric or hiatal hernia surgery, and no significant differences in mortality were found between high-star and low-star hospitals for any advanced laparoscopic abdominal surgery.

A total of 72,662 patients in the University HealthSystem Consortium database were included in the study.

The findings indicate that the recently released CMS star ratings are a poor surrogate for quality of surgical care, the authors say.

Question Do Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services high-star hospitals have improved outcomes in advanced laparoscopic abdominal surgery compared with low-star hospitals? Findings In this administrative database study, compared with low-star hospitals, high-star hospitals had significantly fewer intensive care unit admissions and lower mean cost.