CMS updates Star Ratings, proposes future changes

Editor's Note

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on February 28 updated its Overall Hospital Star Ratings on the Hospital Compare website and posted potential changes to the Hospital Star Ratings methodology for public comment.

The proposed changes would make hospital comparisons more precise and consistent, and allow more direct “like-to-like” comparisons.

One proposed change would place hospitals with similar characteristics into “peer groups,” allowing small hospitals, for example, to be compared to other small hospitals instead of all hospitals.

Comments on the proposed changes will be accepted through March 29.