No 5-star hospitals in NJ?!

Last week, Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a new tool that allows individuals to check CMS ratings of hospitals.  In NJ, there were no hospitals that received the top rating of 5-stars.


There are 64 quality measures used in the rankings and more information can be found at the link below.

• https://www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/About/Hospital-overall-ratings.html

You can search the rankings for specific hospitals at the link below.

• https://www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/search.html 

Transparency is Key
There are some Congressman pushing back on the release of these rankings and some politicians that believe they were just released too soon.


From my perspective, this tool is a huge milestone in moving in the right direction for healthcare. Transparency is critical in healthcare improvements and providing consumers with the information needed to make educated decisions.


I would not suggest that this ranking system is perfect.  I would actually bet there are numerous flaws in the weights and logic used, since the tool was just released. It will take time to fine-tune just like any other new system.


Even with the flaws, this is another resource that can be used by individuals to make educated decisions and by hospital systems to drive improved care.


Additionally, the ratings system should only improve over time to become more accurate and provide the correct weights for the right categories of scoring.


Overall I am disappointed that NJ has no 5-star rated hospitals, but I am thrilled that this new tool is available; and I will be surprised if next years ratings don't include a 5-star hospital in NJ!
 
 
Medicare Advantage versus Original Medicare
If you have a Medicare Advantage (HMO) plan, you are limited to certain hospitals within your service area.  On the contrary, Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement allows you to use ANY hospital in the country that accepts Medicare.  You will pay more for your monthly premiums with a Medicare Supplement, but you are able to choose from the best hospitals in the country.  If you are interesting in a Medicare Supplement, give us a call today to see if you would qualify.

 
Call now
 
(1-908-272-1970)   Cranford Office


or 


(1-856-866-8900)   Moorestown Office

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Have you registered for one of our events?  If not, click here to find upcoming times & locations of our workshops. 

If you work at a corporation/organization that would benefit from an educational workshop on Medicare - fill out our online form to request a workshop in your location.  There is NO fee and the workshops are purely educational.

You can also watch our Medicare workshop as aired by TV35 here!

 
If you need help with your Medicare Planning or if you would like a FREE review of your Medicare plans - give us a call today!  Se Habla Español!!
 
Call now
 
(1-908-272-1970)   Cranford Office


or 


(1-856-866-8900)   Moorestown Office





Have a great week!






Best Regards,


Justin Lubenow
Senior Advisors
908-272-1970
justin@senior-advisors.com
23 North Avenue East
Cranford, NJ 07016