CMS Releases First Ratings In Star Rating Program For Hospitals; 22.5% Of Hospitals ‘Above Average’

On July 27, 2016, Medicare released new hospital quality star ratings for 3,662 of the 4,599 hospitals in the United States, and 22.5% of hospitals earned either four or five stars. The star ratings, which range from one star to five stars, are based on quality of care data and consumer satisfaction surveys. Hospitals that reported a sufficient quantity of quality data received a star rating. The five-star rating, which signals the highest quality of care, was granted to 102 hospitals, about 2.2% of all hospitals, and another 20.3% of hospitals earned four stars . . .