The New Jersey Hospital Association is disappointed that CMS did not fully address the concerns of stakeholders – and Congress – to further refine the Star Ratings system before its release. The Star Ratings system has not been adjusted to reflect sociodemographic factors, shown to be key drivers of health outcomes, which penalizes hospitals in very diverse states like New Jersey. 

NJHA supports transparency and giving consumers quality information to support healthcare decisions. The key to well-informed consumers, though, is reliable comparisons calculated in an appropriate manner. That includes recognizing the complexities of providing care within hospitals that train residents and treat higher numbers of low-income patients.

We will continue to work with CMS, the American Hospital Association, our Congressional delegation and our members to develop quality of care information for consumers that is representative of the high quality of care provided in our hospitals and health systems.