2025 CMS Star Ratings Are Here: What Changed—And What to Do Now

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The 2025 CMS Star Ratings came early this year, and the ripple effects are already being felt. For hospital and health system leaders, it’s not just about understanding the new scoring models; it’s about knowing how to respond strategically, fast.

At Tendo, we’ve been working closely with quality, CDI, and reporting teams across the country. The message is clear: the stakes are higher, the scoring is tighter, and the time to act is now.

Here’s what you need to know and how Tendo can help.

 

What’s Changed in the 2025 CMS Star Ratings?

  1. Tighter Rating Scales Mean Less Room for Error
    The updated scale makes it harder to hold or gain stars, especially for hospitals on the margin. Small data inconsistencies or incomplete documentation can now have an outsized impact.

  2. eCQMs Are Here, And They Matter
    For the first time, CMS is including electronic Clinical Quality Measures (eCQMs) in its scoring. This is a major shift in how data is reported, interpreted, and scored.

  3. Pandemic-Era Data Exclusions Are Changing the Landscape
    COVID-era exclusions mean that your historical data might not tell the full story anymore. A fresh strategy is essential to maintain or improve ratings under the new model.

Why the Old Playbook Won’t Work Anymore

For many hospitals, the CMS Star Rating has traditionally been a lagging indicator—a number you check once it’s published and hope improves next year.

But that reactive approach doesn’t cut it anymore. You can’t afford to “wait and see.” What you need is:

  • Real-time visibility into your projected ratings
  • AI-powered identification of quality and documentation gaps
  • A precise roadmap for sustainable, targeted improvement

Tendo: Your Strategic Partner for CMS Star Ratings

Tendo is the only platform that allows health systems to both forecast and improve their CMS Star Rating—proactively and with confidence.

Here’s how we help:

  • Forecast Your Rating
    Know your likely CMS Star Rating before it’s published—and course-correct early.
  • Pinpoint What to Fix
    Our analytics engine highlights documentation blind spots, data quality gaps, and clinical workflow inefficiencies.
  • Tailor an Improvement Plan
    No one-size-fits-all here. We help you create a strategy that aligns with your organization’s specific drivers, data, and teams.
  • Integrate Seamlessly
    Tendo works with your existing CDI, Quality, and IT infrastructure. No rip-and-replace needed.

AI-Powered Insights, Human-Led Impact

We believe that the best decisions come from a combination of cutting-edge technology and deep clinical context. Tendo’s analytics illuminate the path—but your teams are the ones driving change.

By giving them clarity, we give them confidence.

Don’t Wait Another Year to Improve

Hospitals that act now have a clear advantage. The 2025 CMS Star Ratings are already impacting strategy and funding across the industry.

Whether you’re holding steady or at risk of slipping, Tendo can help you move forward with clarity, precision, and measurable results.

Ready to Boost Your CMS Star Rating?

Tendo Insights offers you the tools and expertise to elevate your CMS Star rating with a targeted strategy that drives results.

Your personalized scorecard is designed to give you a clear view of where your organization stands and what actions will have the most impact on improving your rating. It includes:

  • Current Performance Metrics

    A deep dive into the key factors affecting your current CMS Star rating.

  • Step-by-Step Improvement Plan

    Practical recommendations for improving your score and achieving your rating goals.

  • Performance Forecast

    A projection of your CMS rating, based on current performance, to guide your future strategy.

Get your personalized evaluation.

Your privacy and security are important to us, we will never sell your data to third parties.

Get your personalized evaluation.

Your privacy and security are important to us, we will never sell your data to third parties.