Key Takeaways
- Medicare Care Compare Tool allows you to search hospitals, dialysis facilities, and nursing homes using quality metrics and safety ratings to find the best providers in your area.
- Compare providers side-by-side using data on patient outcomes, staffing levels, infection rates, and readmission rates to make informed healthcare decisions.
- The tool is free, updated regularly with current data, and helps you identify high-quality facilities before you need care or during treatment planning.
- Use Care Compare alongside your plan's provider directory to ensure selected quality providers are in-network and covered under your specific Medicare plan.
Choosing quality healthcare providers is one of the most important decisions Medicare beneficiaries make. The Medicare Care Compare Tool, available at Medicare.gov, empowers you to research and compare hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, and dialysis facilities based on objective quality data and patient safety metrics. This free tool gives you access to the same performance information that healthcare professionals use to evaluate facility quality.
What Is the Medicare Care Compare Tool?
Medicare Care Compare is a comprehensive online resource developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to increase transparency in healthcare quality. The tool aggregates data from thousands of healthcare facilities nationwide and presents it in an easy-to-understand format. You can compare facilities based on quality measures, safety ratings, staffing levels, and patient experience scores. Whether you're planning ahead or need urgent care, this tool helps you make data-driven decisions about where to receive treatment.
The tool covers multiple types of providers: hospitals, skilled nursing facilities (nursing homes), home health agencies, and dialysis centers. Each facility type has specific quality metrics relevant to the services provided. For example, hospitals are evaluated on mortality rates and readmission rates for specific conditions, while nursing homes are assessed on staffing adequacy and infection prevention. All data is publicly available and updated regularly to reflect the most current performance information.
Getting Started: How to Access the Tool
Accessing Medicare Care Compare is straightforward and requires no special login or registration. Visit Medicare.gov and look for the 'Care Compare' link in the main navigation or use the search function to find it quickly. Once on the Care Compare homepage, you'll see options to select the type of facility you want to research and your geographic location. The tool automatically recognizes your location but allows you to search any area in the United States.
Bookmark This Resource
Save the direct link to Medicare Care Compare (care-compare.cms.gov) in your browser favorites for quick access. You may want to research providers before a medical event occurs, so having easy access is helpful for ongoing healthcare planning.
Step-by-Step Search Strategies
Select Your Facility Type: Choose from hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, or dialysis centers based on your healthcare needs.
Enter Your Location: Input your city, state, or ZIP code. You can search multiple locations if you're considering relocating or have family in different areas.
Refine Your Search: Use filters to narrow results by specific services offered, such as cardiac care, stroke centers, or specialized treatment programs.
Review Initial Results: The tool displays a list of nearby facilities with star ratings and key quality metrics prominently displayed.
Click for Details: Select any facility to view comprehensive quality data, patient safety information, and detailed performance metrics.
Use Comparison Feature: Select multiple facilities and use the 'Compare' function to view their metrics side-by-side for easier evaluation.
Check Network Status: Verify that your preferred Medicare plan accepts the facilities you're considering before making final decisions.
Understanding Quality Metrics and Ratings
The Medicare Care Compare Tool presents quality information through several key metrics that vary by facility type. Most facilities display an overall star rating from 1 to 5 stars, with 5 stars indicating the highest quality. However, understanding the specific metrics behind those stars helps you make more informed decisions. Each metric is based on actual performance data collected over specific time periods and adjusted for patient case mix when appropriate.
| Facility Type | Key Quality Metrics |
|---|---|
| Hospitals | Mortality rates, readmission rates, safety measures, patient satisfaction, healthcare-associated infections, antibiotic timing for pneumonia |
| Skilled Nursing Facilities | Staffing levels, infection rates, rehospitalization rates, physical restraint use, medication administration errors, quality of resident care |
| Home Health Agencies | Timeliness of care initiation, medication management, patient safety, improvement in health status, patient satisfaction with care |
| Dialysis Centers | Infection prevention, anemia management, bone disease management, vascular access infection rates, patient satisfaction scores |
Pay special attention to metrics directly relevant to your condition or anticipated treatment. If you need joint replacement surgery, focus on hospital readmission rates and infection rates for orthopedic procedures. If considering a nursing home after hospitalization, examine staffing ratios and infection prevention practices. The tool provides context for each metric, explaining why it matters and how the facility compares to local and national averages.
Don't Rely on Star Ratings Alone
While overall star ratings provide a quick reference, dig deeper into specific quality measures. A facility with 3 stars in one area might excel in metrics important to your situation. Review the detailed data to make a fully informed choice rather than relying solely on the overall rating.
Comparing Providers Side-by-Side
The comparison feature is one of the most valuable functions of Medicare Care Compare. After identifying 2-4 facilities you're considering, select the checkbox next to each one and click 'Compare.' The tool displays selected metrics for all chosen facilities in a side-by-side format, making it easy to spot differences in quality, safety, and performance.
When comparing facilities, create a personal priority list of metrics that matter most to you. For example, if infection prevention is your primary concern due to a weakened immune system, that metric should weigh heavily in your evaluation. If patient satisfaction and communication are important, focus on those survey results. Document your findings in a spreadsheet or document to help organize your thoughts and discussion with your healthcare provider.
Compare no more than 4 facilities at once to avoid information overload
Look for consistency across multiple quality metrics, not just one or two measures
Note which facilities specialize in services relevant to your specific condition
Check whether quality improvements or declines have occurred over recent years
Consider facility location, convenience, and visiting hours for family members
Review patient testimonials and complaints if available through the tool
Verifying Network Coverage and Costs
Finding a high-quality provider is only half the equation. You must also ensure that your Medicare plan covers the facility and understand your out-of-pocket costs. Medicare Care Compare shows quality metrics but does not display coverage or cost information specific to your plan. After identifying preferred providers, take the next step of verifying network status and costs.
If you have Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), understand your costs: Part A deductible is $1,736 per benefit period for hospital inpatient stays, Part B deductible is $283 annually, and Part B premium is $202.90 per month (2026 rates). If you're hospitalized at an in-network hospital, you pay the Part A deductible for each benefit period. If you use an out-of-network provider, costs may be significantly higher. For Medicare Advantage plans, contact your insurer to verify that your chosen providers are in-network and to understand plan-specific cost-sharing. A Medigap supplement plan can help cover these out-of-pocket costs under Original Medicare.
Cross-Reference Your Plan's Provider Directory
Always verify network status through your specific Medicare plan's provider directory or customer service. A facility might be high-quality but out-of-network for your plan, making it prohibitively expensive. This extra step ensures you find both quality and coverage.
Special Considerations and Next Steps
While Medicare Care Compare provides valuable objective data, it should supplement rather than replace conversations with your healthcare providers. Your primary care physician or specialists often have direct experience with local facilities and can offer insights about facility quality that extend beyond published metrics. Discuss your findings from Care Compare with your doctor and ask for their recommendations based on their knowledge and your specific medical situation.
For elective procedures or planned care, use Medicare Care Compare well in advance to research options. If you require emergency care, you'll typically have limited choice in facilities, but Care Compare becomes valuable for follow-up care, rehabilitation, or ongoing treatment planning. For chronic conditions requiring ongoing dialysis or home health services, proactive research through Care Compare helps you select providers aligned with your quality standards before urgent circumstances force a rushed decision.
Consider visiting facilities in person when possible. Tour a nursing home's environment, observe staff interactions with residents, and assess cleanliness and maintenance. Speak with current patients or families about their experiences. While metrics provide objective data, personal observation and conversations offer context that numbers alone cannot convey. Many facilities offer tours by appointment, so call ahead to schedule a visit.
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