The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a temporary pause in updates to its Nursing Home Care Compare website and the Five-Star Quality Rating System. All information on Care Compare, including star ratings, will not be updated until the restart of regular data refreshes, scheduled for October this year.
CMS made the move to ensure accuracy while it transitions from its legacy Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (QIES) to the new cloud-based Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) for improved data quality, reliability and efficiency.*
How does this affect facilities?
- Star ratings won’t change until October: Any recent quality improvements (or setbacks) won’t be visible on Care Compare until CMS completes the transition.
- Transparency requirements remain: Facilities must continue posting their most recent survey findings (CMS-2567 Statement of Deficiencies) in a publicly accessible area. This ensures that residents, families and visitors have access to up-to-date compliance information.
- Daily operations are unaffected: Survey processes continue, and care expectations haven’t changed. What’s on hold is the public reporting, not the standards you’re held to.
Why it matters
For schedulers and facility leaders, this pause is about visibility rather than operations. Reputation management might take a temporary hit since your improvements won't be reflected online, but maintaining consistency in care – and keeping shifts covered – remains the best way to prepare for surveys and to reassure families.
What to do
- Keep communicating: Share quality improvement updates directly with families and referral partners since Care Compare won’t reflect them until October.
- Provide visibility: Display your most recent survey findings where residents, families and visitors can easily see them.
- Stay consistent: Focus on covering shifts reliably to maintain resident care quality during this reporting gap.
- Prepare ahead: Use this time to address any existing concerns so your facility is ready when ratings resume.
Bottom line
The pause is temporary and affects reporting timelines, not care delivery. Facilities that continue to prioritize quality and strong workforce planning will be in the best position when CMS resumes updates later in the year.
*This article is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal or compliance advice. While we strive to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information presented, it should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional or legal advice as it may not be applicable to your particular situation or circumstances.
