Only one-fifth of all 15,000 nursing homes in the nation hold the distinction of a five star rating by the Medicare system, but an examination into the process has found that many top ranked nursing homes have been given their rating due to incomplete information regarding the conditions at their homes. This misinformation has an effect on the facilities’ residents, potential consumers, and investors regarding the communities.
Medicare Nursing Home Ratings
The Medicare ratings system is considered one of the best ways to evaluate nursing homes in the country. When nurses and doctors discharge patients from the hospital, they often use the ratings in referral decisions. Insurers also look at the ratings when creating preferred insurance networks. Medicare ratings are also the first metric that investors and lenders look at when deciding whether a nursing home is a safe bet.