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Quality measures for nursing homes

The quality measures star rating measures parts of nursing home performance in certain areas of care, like if residents have gotten their flu shots, are in pain, or are losing weight. By comparing scores, you can see how nursing homes may be different from each other.

The quality measures star rating is calculated from 2 different types of quality measures: short- and long-stay resident quality measures.

Short-stay quality measures

Short-stay quality measures show the average level of a nursing home's performance in certain areas of care for those who stayed in a nursing home for 100 days or less or are covered under the Medicare Part A Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) benefit. Short-stay residents often are those recovering from surgery or being discharged from a hospital stay. Many short-stay residents get care in a nursing home until they're able to go back home or to the community. Get more information on what these measures mean and why they're important.

Long-stay quality measures

Long-stay quality measures show the average level of a nursing home's performance in certain areas of care for those who stayed in a nursing home for 101 days or more. Residents in a nursing home for a long-stay are usually not healthy enough to leave a nursing home and can't live at home or in a community setting. These residents may be older and have more serious health issues. Get more information on what these measures mean and why they're important.

For more in-depth information of the quality measures star rating system, view the Technical Users' Guide (PDF).

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