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The star ratings of nearly a third of the nation’s nursing homes were lowered on Friday, as federal officials readjusted quality standards in the face of criticism that the ratings were inaccurate and artificially inflated. Federal officials said they hoped the changes would make it easier for consumers to differentiate between facilities, as well as spur nursing homes to make improvements. (Thomas, 2/20)

Nearly a third of the nation's nursing homes are getting lower scores on the government's five-star quality scale, a reflection of tougher standards for ratings used by nearly 1.5 million consumers to assess care at more than 15,000 facilities. The new ratings, posted Friday on the government's Nursing Home Compare website and in USA Today, are the result of sweeping changes in the way facilities are evaluated. Among other things, the revamped assessments include measures of facilities' use of anti-psychotic drugs, which can pose serious risks for older adults, especially those with dementia. They also use more refined metrics to check for adequate staffing, a critical component of good care. (Eisler and Schnaars, 2/20)

The federal agency that evaluates nursing homes will consider more information in its ranking system -- including the use of anti-psychotic medication -- after news reports and lawmakers last year raised questions about the system's integrity. (Fritze, 2/20)

Nearly a quarter of Iowa's nursing homes will see their performance ratings drop as a result of changes in the way the federal government assesses standards of care at long-term care facilities. The revamped ratings, which will be posted Friday on the government's popular Nursing Home Compare website, raise the bar on what criteria must be met to achieve a top score on its five-star scale. (Kummer, 2/20)