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How does CMS rate nursing homes? A Guide to the Five-Star System

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched its Five-Star Quality Rating System in 2008 to help consumers compare nursing homes more easily. The rating, from one to five stars, provides a snapshot of a facility's overall quality based on three critical areas: health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. A higher rating indicates better performance, but CMS advises using this information alongside other research, including facility visits.