Healthcare Data GlossaryRegulatory
CMS Star Rating: Definition and Healthcare Context
Full name: CMS Quality Star Rating System
CMS Star Ratings are quality scores assigned to Medicare-participating providers, facilities, and health plans on a scale of 1 to 5 stars to help beneficiaries compare quality of care. Separate rating systems exist for nursing homes (Overall, Health Inspections, Staffing, and Quality Measures domains), home health agencies, dialysis facilities, hospices, and Medicare Advantage plans. Ratings are calculated from inspection results, staffing data, and quality measures reported to CMS. Methodologies are published annually in CMS technical documentation.
Last updated: 2026-05-31Reviewed by: Dr. Jennifer Montecillo, MD — Gullas College of Medicine, 2019. Non-practicing medical reviewer.
How it’s used
- CMS Care Compare — Dialysis Facility: each dialysis facility receives a 1–5 star overall rating and domain-specific ratings based on clinical quality measures.
- CMS Care Compare — Home Health Care Agencies: home health agencies receive star ratings based on patient outcomes and CAHPS survey results.
- CMS Care Compare (nursing homes): the five-star rating system is the primary quality signal for nursing home selection, drawing on PBJ staffing data.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a CMS Star Rating?
- A CMS Star Rating is a 1–5 star quality score assigned to Medicare-participating facilities (nursing homes, home health agencies, dialysis centers, etc.) based on inspections, staffing, and quality measures.
- How are nursing home star ratings calculated?
- Nursing home star ratings combine three domain scores: health inspections, staffing levels (sourced from PBJ data), and quality measures. The overall rating is derived from these components.
- Where can I find CMS star ratings?
- Star ratings are published on CMS Care Compare at medicare.gov/care-compare and are also available as bulk downloads through data.cms.gov.