On June 18, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released QSO-25-20-NH Updates to Nursing Home Compare. In the memo, CMS notes several changes to how items are displayed on the website related to performance data for nursing home chains, standard survey cycles for the inspection rating, updated long-stay antipsychotic measures, and removal of the COVID-19 vaccine measures.
Post Performance Data for Nursing Home Chains
Beginning July 30, 2025, CMS will publish performance information, including the following: average overall 5-star ratings, health inspection ratings, staffing, and quality measure ratings for each chain.
Drop Third Cycle Standard Surveys from the Nursing Home Care Compare Health Inspection Rating
Beginning July 2025, CMS will no longer use the three most recent standard surveys and will only use the two most recent standard surveys for the health inspection rating calculation. CMS will continue to use a three-year lookback period for complaint and infection control inspections to calculate the health inspection rating.
Incorporate Updated Long Stay Antipsychotic Measure on Nursing Home Care Compare
In 2021, the OIG released a report which reported that the use of the MDS for reporting the number of long-stay residents receiving antipsychotic medication may not accurately reflect the number of residents who are prescribed antipsychotic medications. To address the OIGs concern, CMS is updating the measure for long-stay antipsychotics by including Medicare and Medicaid claims data and Medicare Advantage encounter data to supplement the MDS data.
These updates will leverage data to improve the measure’s accuracy. For example, CMS will capture antipsychotic prescribing that falls within the nursing home stay, but not within the 7-day MDS look-back window. This update will occur on October 29, 2025.
Removing COVID-19 Vaccination Measures
Effective July 30, 2025, the COVID-19 vaccination section from the main profile page of each nursing home will be removed.