Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara announced that a new law that he championed and helped pass, designed to improve transparency in nursing home care, takes effect today. (A2188) The legislation requires nursing homes to prominently display their most recent star ratings for health inspections, staffing, and quality measures as determined by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Under the new law, nursing homes are required to post their overall CMS rating, as well as ratings for health inspections, staffing, and quality measures:

• On their website homepage.
• On any website or webpage maintained by their parent company.
• Conspicuously within the facility itself, where it is visible to the general public and residents.

The New York State Department of Health will also make these ratings easily accessible on its website, empowering families to compare facilities and make informed decisions about their loved ones’ care.

“Navigating the decision to place a loved one in a nursing home is an emotional and challenging process,” said Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara. “This legislation ensures that families have clear, accurate, and accessible information to help them choose the best possible care for their loved ones. Transparency and accountability are essential in providing peace of mind during such critical decisions.”

The CMS five-star rating system provides essential insights into nursing home performance, helping families assess factors like health inspection results, staffing levels, and the quality of care provided. However, these ratings were previously difficult to locate, especially during times of crisis.

This law builds upon prior efforts to promote transparency in nursing home operations by requiring detailed ratings to be prominently displayed. By doing so, it addresses longstanding concerns about the variability in care provided by nursing homes and equips families with tools to make well-informed decisions.

“Families need confidence in the care their loved ones will receive,” added Assemblyman Santabarbara. “This is a significant step toward ensuring that all New Yorkers can make informed choices when selecting a nursing facility.”