Study: Five-Star System Doesn't Align with Resident Perceptions

Since its creation, CMS' Five-Star Quality Rating System has garnered criticism from caregivers and industry experts. In March, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius acknowledged that "This sort of bell curve seems to have some inherent flaws."



Now, a new study from Holleran, a senior-living research firm, has found a large disconnect between how the system ranks facilities and the way those facilities are viewed by residents and their families.



According to the five-star system, a one-star facility is of inferior quality when compared to a five-star facility. However, according to the study, residents at one-star facilities were actually more likely to say they would choose their facilities again when compared to higher-ranking facilities. Holleran suggested that modifying the current five-star formula to include satisfaction surveys could go a long toward improving the system.



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