How Often Are Hospital Ratings Updated?
Hospital quality ratings are not static — they are updated periodically as new data becomes available. Understanding the update schedule helps you know how current the information is when you're researching hospitals.
CMS Star Ratings Update Schedule
CMS typically updates overall hospital star ratings once per year, though the exact timing can vary:
- Frequency: Annual (historically released in late winter or spring)
- Data period: Uses quality measures from the most recent available reporting periods, typically 1-3 years of data depending on the measure
- Preview period: Hospitals receive a preview of their ratings before public release to review and correct any data errors
- Data lag: Because of reporting and analysis timelines, published ratings may reflect care delivered 6-18 months earlier
CMS Quality Measure Updates
Individual quality measures on Medicare Care Compare are updated on different schedules:
- Patient experience (HCAHPS): Updated quarterly with rolling 12-month data
- Mortality and readmission rates: Updated annually
- Healthcare-associated infections: Updated quarterly
- Timely and effective care: Updated quarterly
- Payment and value of care: Updated annually
Other Rating System Schedules
- Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades: Updated twice per year (spring and fall)
- U.S. News Best Hospitals: Updated annually (typically in summer)
- Joint Commission accreditation: On-site surveys approximately every 3 years, with continuous monitoring
Why Updates Take Time
Several factors create the lag between when care is delivered and when ratings are published:
- Data collection: Hospitals report quality measures on defined schedules
- Data validation: CMS verifies the accuracy of submitted data
- Statistical analysis: Risk adjustment and clustering analysis require sufficient data for reliable comparisons
- Hospital preview: Hospitals review their results and can submit corrections
- Public comment: Methodology changes go through public comment periods
How to Stay Informed
- Bookmark Medicare Care Compare and check periodically for updates
- Look at the "data updated" date on the Medicare Care Compare website to know how current the information is
- Check multiple measures rather than relying solely on the overall star rating
- Look at trends over multiple update periods when available
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE with questions about specific hospital data
Data sourced from CMS. Visit Medicare Care Compare for the most current hospital quality information.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
Important
This article explains how hospital quality data works and is for general information only. It is not medical advice and must not be used to decide whether to seek, delay or refuse care — that is a decision for you and a clinician who knows your situation.
CMS quality measures describe care delivered during earlier reporting periods and are refreshed roughly quarterly. A hospital's staffing, services and performance can change well before the published numbers do.
hospiguide.org is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to CMS, Medicare, or any U.S. government agency, and publishes no ratings of its own.
Before acting on anything here, verify current details at Medicare.gov Care Compare or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048.
HospiGuide.org Editorial Team
Our editorial team explains U.S. hospital quality data using official CMS datasets and government publications. We are not medical professionals, we do not recommend hospitals, and we accept no payment for coverage. Every factual claim is checked against a CMS or federal source. Read our editorial policy.
Related reading
Hospital Accreditation: Joint Commission vs DNV vs HFAP
Hospital accreditation is a process through which healthcare organizations are evaluated against established standards
What Is a Critical Access Hospital? A Patient Guide
If you live in a rural area, the closest hospital may be a Critical Access Hospital (CAH). These small, specially designated
Understanding Hospital Bed Size: What It Means for Your Care
Hospital bed size is one of the basic characteristics used to categorize hospitals. While bigger doesn't always mean better, bed