Medicare calculates patient survey and outcomes data using the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey. This survey is administered to hospital patients and is designed to evaluate hospital performance broadly, not just in senior housing settings.

The HCAHPS survey focuses on various aspects of the patient experience, including communication with doctors and nurses, responsiveness of hospital staff, pain management, and cleanliness of the hospital environment. By collecting direct feedback from patients, CMS aims to provide a standardized measure of hospital performance.

These star ratings differ from consumer ratings typically found on websites for products, restaurants, or hotels, which reflect averages of consumers' opinions. CMS star ratings rank hospitals on a comparative scale from lowest to highest performance. As a result, some hospitals may be ranked below others even while delivering high-quality care.

Survey data may not be available for all hospitals, as availability depends on the sample size and participation in the HCAHPS program. For more details about the survey and its methodology, visit the official CMS website: CMS HCAHPS Survey.