The CMS ratings agency has released information on distribution of star ratings on hospital quality ahead of release of publishing much-anticipated overall ratings.

The agency said it hoped to clarify how all kinds of hospitals can show varying quality as shown by star ratings.

The CMS also said it hoped to “address any questions or concerns about the data from stakeholders."

Here are the key data:

  • 4,599 hospitals were rated;
  • 2.2 percent, or 102 institutions, received a five-star rating;
  • 20.3 percent received four stars;
  • 38.5 percent received three stars;
  • 15.7 percent earned two stars;
  • 2.9 percent received one star.
  • 20.4 percent of hospitals did not meet the minimum reporting requirements so a star rating was not applicable.
Facility size also had an impact on rating:
  • 2 percent of facilities with fewer than 100 beds, 100-199 beds or over 200 beds received five stars;
  • About 20 percent received four stars;
  • Approximately a quarter of the two categories of larger hospitals garnered 2 stars. This was compared with 5.6 percent of hospitals with fewer beds.

In terms of teaching status, the most important difference in ratings was that 24.2 percent of non-teaching hospitals were listed as non-applicable for overall star ratings. On the other hand, 8.8 percent of teaching hospitals came under this category.

See Also: What's in a Star Rating
Safety net hospitals showed a mean rating that was slightly lower than non-safety facilities with 2.88 stars. On average, non-safety hospitals received 3.09 stars.

Those facilities which are eligible for disproportionate share hospital payments on average also rated lower than hospitals that were not (2.92 stars versus 3.47).

The CMS publishes hospital star ratings based on patient experience. Its Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating, however, is a composite scoring system of one to five stars, with five being the best, based on 62 quality measures.

The star-rating system has drawn opposition from some stakeholders with some hospital groups saying it was calculated in a manner that could not reflect a hospital's quality accurately.

CMS has said it will be releasing the full list “shortly.” 

 

Source: Modern Healthcare

Image Credit: CMS

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