LeadingAge NY Releases Fact Sheet on 5-Star Ratings
LeadingAge NY has developed a fact sheet to educate policymakers, nursing home staff, and other stakeholders on the 5-star rating system. Entitled “The Growing Importance of Nursing Home 5-Star Ratings and How They are Impacted by Survey Findings,” the document provides general background on the nursing home 5-Star Quality Rating System developed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and how the CMS rating system is now used by multiple parties to compare nursing homes.
Originally intended to help consumers, families, and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily and to help them decide which facilities to consider, the 5-star rating system is now used by regulators, insurers, provider/practitioner networks, and financiers, as well as in various payment reform initiatives. The fact sheet points out that nursing homes may not even be able to obtain sufficient referrals or receive Medicare and Medicaid funding in the future if they do not have at least a 3-star rating.
The document was developed with the assistance of the LeadingAge NY Nursing Facility and CCRC Cabinets, and was originally aimed at educating state policymakers and surveillance staff on the importance of 5-star ratings and the impact of facility surveys on these ratings. Cabinet members noted that this document would also provide useful information for member facility managers, staff, and board members. LeadingAge NY encourages its members to distribute this fact sheet to these individuals and any other interested parties. We welcome member feedback on this resource and any additional resources that would be helpful in this regard.
LeadingAge NY members are also reminded that they receive quarterly Nursing Home 5-Star Analysis Reports via email as a free LeadingAge NY primary member benefit. The report includes a comprehensive analysis of your facility’s 5-star rating, highlighting areas to focus improvement efforts on in order to increase the star rating. Please contact us at qualitymetrics@leadingageny.org or 518-867-8383 to receive the latest report for your facility. More information on the 5-star reports and other quality resources is available at Nursing Home Quality Metrics.
Contact: Dan Heim, dheim@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8866