Dan and I wrote a few posts in December when Medicare began its 5 star rating program for nursing homes. 5 being great, 1 star being really terrible (OK – so I am paraphrasing).
Well I like the idea of a simple rating system. Lawyers have one. AV rated being the best, BV the next best, etc. Restaurants have one. Hotels do too. Nursing Homes are commercial in so much as families chose, and then often have to pay. So why wouldn’t a 5 star rating system, based on national guidelines and the government’s information be a good thing? After all, it isn’t done by a private group looking to create doubt or bias.
“What is being launched” “is poorly planned, prematurely implemented and ham-handedly rolled out.” So said a press release “rocket” from the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA), quoting President and CEO Larry Minnix on the eve of the federal government’s December 18 release of its Five-Star Rating System for nursing homes.
Check it out for yourself. Had a good experience with a local nursing home? Look up their rating? A terrible experience, maybe the rating system would have helped you chose!