CMS adds HCAHPS star ratings to Hospital Compare

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today added star ratings for hospitals reporting consumer perception survey measures at Hospital Compare, including an overall star rating for performance on the 11 survey measures. The survey is called the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems. “Hospitals are leaders in sharing quality and safety information to help patients make informed decisions about their health care,” said Akin Demehin, AHA senior associate director of policy. “While star ratings could be an effective way to make quality information easier to understand, the devil is in the details. There’s a risk of oversimplifying the complexity of quality care or misinterpreting what is important to a particular patient, especially since patients seek care for many different reasons.” CMS next year plans to implement a star rating for most Hospital Compare quality measures.