Five Star Quality Measure Rating Thresholds Increase in April

Posted on March 24, 2022 by Julie Apold

Periodically, CMS raises the Quality Measure (QM) ratings’ thresholds in the Five Star Quality Rating System to promote continuously quality improvement. CMS is implementing a new process for raising QM rating thresholds by increasing the threshold for the average rate of improvement in QM scores by 50% every six months. For example, if there is an average rate of improvement of 2%, the QM rating thresholds would be raised 1%.   

An initial QM rating threshold increase will be implemented next month with the April 2022 refresh.   This change was initially outlined in the March 2019 QSO-19-08-NH memorandum but the initial threshold changes were put on hold due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

With these regular increases in QM rating thresholds, you may see a decline in your star ratings even if your performance remains the same. It is important to have a process in place to continuously monitor your performance through the quarterly Five Star reports available to members through LeadingAge Minnesota. 

In April, CMS will also release a new Five-Star Quality Rating System Technical Users Guide with the updated QM ratings thresholds. For questions related to Care Compare, including the Five-Star Quality Rating System, you can contact: bettercare@cms.hhs.gov.