Data Sources
HealthRankings uses public healthcare datasets to make facility information easier to compare. Our nursing home section currently focuses on public CMS data, including facility ratings, staffing information, inspection data, ownership, certified beds, and location details.
CMS Provider Data Catalog
The nursing home data on HealthRankings currently comes primarily from the CMS Provider Data Catalog and related CMS public nursing home datasets.
This data includes:
- CMS overall star ratings
- Health inspection ratings
- Staffing ratings
- Quality measure ratings
- Nurse staffing hours per resident day
- Certified beds
- Ownership type
- Address and contact information
- Abuse icon / special focus status when available
- Inspection, penalty, and enforcement data when available
CMS Care Compare
CMS Care Compare is the official federal tool for comparing Medicare-certified healthcare providers and facilities. HealthRankings links users to CMS Care Compare where appropriate and encourages users to verify current information there.
Reporting periods and updates
CMS data is released on a reporting schedule. HealthRankings may update its nursing home data monthly or when new CMS source files are processed. The reporting period shown on a facility page reflects the latest CMS snapshot currently available in HealthRankings, not a real-time verification date.
Public data may lag current facility conditions. Pages may not reflect very recent inspections, ownership changes, staffing changes, or corrective actions.
What the data can and cannot tell you
This data can help you compare:
- CMS ratings
- Staffing levels
- Inspection patterns
- Ownership
- Facility size
- Nearby alternatives
This data cannot fully answer:
- Current day-to-day care quality
- Staff culture
- Room availability
- Recent changes after the CMS reporting period
- Personal fit for a resident
- Whether a facility is the right choice for a specific person
Data limitations
- Public datasets can contain missing or delayed information.
- Some fields may be unavailable for certain facilities.
- Ratings are summaries, not complete evaluations.
- Facilities can change between CMS reporting periods.
- HealthRankings may transform source data for readability, grouping, and comparison, but should not invent missing values.
Future datasets
HealthRankings may add additional public datasets over time. When a new dataset is actively used on the site, this page will be updated to explain the source and how it is used.
Corrections and feedback
If you believe a page contains incorrect or outdated information, please verify the source data first and contact us with the facility name, CMS Certification Number, and the specific issue.