The Medicare "five-star" rating of nearly 3,000 nursing homes across the country may be misleading to the true state of the facilities due to incomplete information, according to The New York Times.
The issue is that Medicare bases their ratings largely on self-reported data by the nursing homes that the government does not, in turn, verify.
Only one of the three criteria used to determine the star ratings - the results of annual health inspections - relies on assessments from independent reviewers. The other measures - staff levels and quality statistics - are reported by the nursing homes and accepted by Medicare, with little exceptions, at face value.
The Medicare ratings, which have become the gold standard across the industry, do not take into account sets of potentially negative information, including fines and other enforcement actions by state, rather than federal, authorities, as well as complaints filed by consumers with state agencies. Read the full details here:
Medicare Star Ratings Allow Nursing Homes to Game the System
Beware of ratings systems for your loved one at nursing homes throughout the country. A system based on Medicare criteria has been proven to be flawed and could lead to poor care, negligent outcomes, and frustrated and angry families.
If you or someone you love has been injured due to nursing home abuse or negligence, call the professionals at Crandall & Pera Law for a free case evaluation. Crandall & Pera Law is available to help answer your questions and guide you in determining your next steps.