CMS Physician Compare site now includes star ratings, patient experience data

New data has been added to the CMS Physician Compare website, allowing the public to see star ratings based on Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) scores and practice information for patient satisfaction scores.

The five-star rating is scored based on “a small subset of group-level measures” in PQRS involving preventive care, care planning, diabetes, behavioral health, patient safety and heart disease.

Similar CMS star ratings have been criticized by industry groups. The American Hospital Association has repeatedly asked the agency to suspend them on the Hospital Compare site, arguing they’re “inaccurate and misleading.”

Patient satisfaction scores collected as part of the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) for PQRS measures for only groups will not be displayed in star ratings, but as a percentage of patients who selected the most positive responses on the surveys, which CMS said will “ensure patient experience data is interpreted correctly.”

The site will also include new data for clinicians participating in accountable care organizations (ACOs).

“2016 data for the Shared Savings Program, Pioneer, and Next Generation Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are now also publicly reported on Physician Compare,” CMS said. “ACO measures are reported as percent performance rates. CAHPS for ACO summary survey measures are reported as means. In this way, the CAHPS for ACO performance scores are the average of all responses available for each summary survey measure.”