CMS launches Nursing Home Compare, non-profit homes rated higher

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services launched its Nursing Home Compare tool yesterday, giving the public a chance to see nursing home ratings in five quality measures (Source: “Nursing home care is rated on new Web site,” Cincinnati Enquirer, Dec. 18, 2008).

The online database gives ratings on a five-star scale for overall performance, resident satisfaction, quality of care and two staffing measures.

"It will especially appeal to baby boomers who are turning to the Internet while they're trying to find nursing homes for their parents," said Laurie Petrie, spokeswoman for the Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio.

An analyis of the new database by USA Today found that for-profit nursing homes are more likely to provide lower-rated care than nonprofit ones (Source: “For-profit nursing homes rated worse,” Chillicothe Gazette, Dec. 18, 2008)

Among USA Today’s finders were that 27 percent of the nation’s 10,542 for-profit homes were one-star, compared with only 13 percent of the 4,138 nonprofit homes. Also, 19 percent of nonprofit facilities got five stars, compared with 9 percent of for-profits.