What does CMS's Five-Star Quality Rating System evaluate?

The Five-Star Quality Rating System established by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is designed to provide an overall assessment of the quality of care delivered in nursing homes. This system evaluates various aspects of care through a comprehensive approach, including health inspections, staffing levels, and quality measures that reflect how well residents are being cared for.

Rating nursing homes based on the overall quality of care helps consumers, families, and caregivers make informed decisions about where to seek care. The system consolidates data on various performance indicators to assign a star rating from one to five, with five stars indicating a high level of quality. This methodology emphasizes not only regulatory compliance but also the outcomes that critically affect the lives of the residents, ultimately guiding stakeholders towards higher standards in care.

In contrast, the other options focus on operational aspects or quantitative metrics that do not directly reflect the quality of care experienced by residents. For example, examining operational costs might overlook crucial factors related to resident satisfaction and health outcomes, while the number of residents and staff-to-resident ratios, while important, are components that contribute to quality but do not encompass the overall evaluation of care provided.