VNA & Hospice Outperforms both Massachusetts and National Averages in New Medicare “Five Star” Rating System

For immediate release: Aug. 10, 2015

NORTHAMPTON – Cooley Dickinson’s VNA & Hospice program earned 4 out of a possible 5 stars in a new rating report released in July that is based on patient outcome data submitted to Medicare.  A 4- or 5-star rating means that the agency performed better than average when compared to other agencies on the measured care practices and outcomes.

The new rating system offers a star rating based on home health agencies’ performance on nine of 29 quality measures posted on the Medicare Home Health Compare website, which are determined based on Medicare claims and patient assessments conducted by the agencies.

The ratings were based on performance data from fall 2013 through 2014. The quality indicators measured include the timely initiation of care, improvement in ambulation, transferring and pain management as well as influenza immunization received for the current flu season and acute care hospitalization, among others.

According to Lisa Khanna, RN, BSN, CPHQ, quality director at the Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice, of the 9,359 agencies rated, only 239 received 5 stars and 2,218 received 4 or 4.5 stars.

For more information, visit https://www.medicare.gov/HomeHealthCompare/Data/Measuring-Agency-Performance.html