CMS delays new rating system at the 11th hour

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has caved to pressure from Congress and the healthcare industry, delaying the release of its new hospital quality rating measure a day before its planned launch.

The new overall hospital quality star rating had a goal of combining an array of current hospital care measurements into one simpler metric because the more than 100 measures CMS publishes are technical and confusing. The new system would have calculated 62 of those measures into a score of one to five stars, five being the highest.

Calls to delay the new system ramped up in recent weeks with 60 Senators and 225 members of the House of Representatives signing letters to CMS. "We have heard from hospitals in our districts that they do not have the necessary data to replicate or evaluate CMS's work to ensure that the methodology is accurate or fair," the letter from the House members said.

A CMS notice told Congress it would delay release of the star ratings on its Hospital Compare website until July. "CMS is committed to working with hospitals and associations to provide further guidance about star ratings," the notice said. "After the star ratings go live in their first iteration, we will refine and improve the site as we work together and gain experience."

Mortality, readmissions, patient experience and safety of care metrics each accounted for 22 percent of the star rating, while measures of effectiveness of care, timeliness of care and efficient use of medical imaging made up 12 percent in total.

Professional associations also urged the delay and the American Hospital Association (AHA) was quick to voice its support for the news. "The delay is a necessary step as hospitals and health systems work with CMS to improve the ratings for patients, and the AHA commends CMS for their decision," said Rick Pollack, AHA president.