New Study Finds Some Nursing Homes Inflate Their Ratings Through Rosy Self-Assessments - New Research Insights

Medicare’s five-star nursing home rating system can be a lifeline for those facing the tough task of selecting a nursing facility for a loved one. Yet questions have been raised about the accuracy of those ratings, which are derived not just from objective inspections but also from self-reported scores. A new paper, supported by a research grant from NIHCM Foundation, finds evidence that a small percentage of facilities are using self-reporting to inflate their ratings—particularly larger and for-profit facilities. Among the findings:

• There is little direct correlation between inspection scores and self-reported scores
• For facilities with similar overall scores, the number of resident complaints varies appreciably—even though facilities with similar objective inspection scores receive similar levels of complaints.