Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
'Irresponsible Slap In The Face': Hospitals Continue To Rail Against U.S. Star Ratings
Following last week's release of federal quality ratings, hospital executives focus on the flaws in the technology and criteria used to judge facilities.
The Boston Globe: Hospitals Bristle At New US Rating System
Federal officials unveiled a new system last week for ranking hospitals across the country, a big step, they said, toward helping consumers make important decisions about where to get their care. As with restaurant reviews, the best hospitals received five stars, and the least impressive got one. But the hospital industry is as indignant as a poorly rated chef. The star system is too crude, industry officials said. It focuses too heavily on controversial measures, like the rate at which patients return to hospitals after being discharged, and unfairly gives lower scores to big teaching hospitals that treat patients with complex problems. (McCluskey, 8/5)
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