The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a temporary freeze on the Nursing Home Care Compare data as of August 17.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a temporary freeze on the Nursing Home Care Compare data as of August 17, 2025. This measure is being taken to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information provided to the public. During this period, CMS will conduct a comprehensive review and update of the data collection and reporting processes.
The Nursing Home Care Compare website is a valuable resource for families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals seeking information about the quality of care provided in nursing homes across the country. The temporary freeze will impact the availability of new data on the website, but CMS remains committed to transparency and quality improvement in nursing home care.
"We understand the importance of providing accurate and reliable information to the public," said one CMS Representative. "This temporary freeze will allow us to thoroughly review and enhance our data collection and reporting processes to ensure that the information on the Nursing Home Care Compare website is of the highest quality."
Action Checklist for Facilities During the Freeze
- Communicate with prospective families and referral partners: Proactively explain that CMS data is temporarily frozen. Emphasize that improvements in quality, staffing, or recent survey results may not be visible online, which is critical context for families choosing placement for long-term care or short-term rehab, as well as for hospitals and referral sources making recommendations.
- Document internal improvements: Keep a record of quality initiatives, staffing changes, or survey outcomes to use in marketing and compliance discussions once updates resume.
- Adjust operational planning: Expect delays in new survey results being posted; align QAPI and quality improvement efforts accordingly.
- Stay ahead on compliance: Track citations and trends locally, since external benchmarking is paused.
- Prepare for contractual discussions: Be ready to explain frozen ratings to payers or partners who rely on star data in agreements.
- Monitor CMS updates: Watch for announcements on when reporting will resume and adjust strategies as needed.
What This Means for the Public:
- Limited Consumer Notice: As of the announcement, the Nursing Home Care Compare site did not indicate that data had been frozen 9.
- Alternative Access: Consumers can still access inspection data via posted survey findings at facilities, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, and by contacting state survey agencies 10 11 12 13.
- Transparency and Trust: The temporary freeze is part of CMS's commitment to ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the data, which ultimately benefits the public by providing more trustworthy information once the freeze is lifted.
CMS encourages stakeholders to continue using the existing data on the Nursing Home Care Compare website and to reach out with any questions or concerns during this period. The agency will provide updates on the progress of the review and the expected timeline for resuming regular data updates.
For more information, please contact your Polaris Consultant.
