Will Individual States Follow California To Require Five Star Ratings To Be Posted?

As the CMS Five Star Rating System continues to get more attention, state legislators from California are getting behind a proposal by Los Angeles County to require nursing homes to display the ratings they receive prominently. Earlier this month, California State Representative Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) and Assembly member Cameron Smyth (R-Santa Clarita) introduced Assembly Bill 215, bipartisan legislation to require long-term health care facilities to post the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) star rating in a visible, public location. The postings would be similar in style to restaurant facility grades in several California counties.

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“Posting nursing home grades is crucial to ensuring our loved ones receive the high quality of care they deserve,” said Feuer. “This legislation will give families valuable information, and provide an additional incentive to facilities to achieve the highest standards.”

Responses from facilities that have been contacted by Senior Housing News range from supportive to adamantly against the proposal, usually based upon the facilities current rating. In the event the bill passes, the facilities that have lower ratings are going to be back-pedaling or addressing those deficiencies outlined in the ratings just as prominently as their current rating and will be waiting for their re-evaluation anxiously. More importantly, will other states follow this trend?

For the full statement from Mike Feuer, click here.

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