Report evaluates CMS changes to Hospital Overall Star Ratings

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has more work to do to ensure its Hospital Overall Quality Star Ratings are equitable, according to an American Hospital Association (AHA)-commissioned report. The report found that while the CMS new Overall Star Ratings methodology preserves some year-to-year stability, ratings remain volatile for hospitals reporting fewer measures. Smaller, rural hospitals and critical access hospitals are more likely to report fewer measures. In addition, the report found the methodology still does not provide an “apples to apples” comparison of all hospitals. AHA offers several suggestions to CMS to make the basis of ratings more equitable (AHA blog, 7/14/22)