Understanding the Quality of Patient Care Star Ratings
The Quality of Patient Care Star Ratings evaluate how Home Health Agencies (HHAs) perform in providing care, allowing for easy comparison between agencies. Most agencies receive a 3-star rating, indicating a standard level of quality care. A rating above 3 stars reflects higher-than-average performance in key care areas, while a rating below 3 stars suggests that an agency’s quality of care is lower than the national average.
These ratings do not measure the absolute quality of care provided by an agency but instead offer a comparison to other HHAs based on performance metrics. Unlike customer reviews for products or services, these ratings are data-driven and not based on consumer opinions found on websites or apps.
Moreover, CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) provides Patient Experience of Care Star Ratings, which summarize patient feedback through the Home Health Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers & Systems (HHCAHPS) survey. These ratings capture patient satisfaction and experiences with home healthcare services. More details can be found at https://www.medicare.gov/homehealthcompare/About/Patient-Survey-Star-Ratings.html.
How the Ratings Are Calculated
Since April 2018, the Home Health Quality of Patient Care Star Ratings have been determined using eight quality measures published on the Home Health Compare website. To receive a Star Rating, an agency must have reported data for at least five out of the eight measures:
- Timely Start of Care
- Medication Education
- Improvement in Ambulation
- Improvement in Bed Transferring
- Improvement in Bathing
- Pain Management
- Improvement in Shortness of Breath
- Acute Care Hospitalization
For trusted home healthcare services, call us today at 972-352-2943 to discuss care options for your loved ones.