Frequently Asked Questions
How is Choosing Quality Care different from other reporting websites?
Government agencies and private organizations publish useful healthcare quality reports, ratings, and “Best” facility lists. Choosing Quality Care helps you find these resources, understand their differences and limitations, and prepare questions about the care you need.
Selected procedure options include colonoscopy, hip replacement, knee replacement, and cataract surgery in the hospital tools, where the relevant CMS results are available. Hip/knee measures are combined. The ASC guide includes selected colonoscopy and cataract measures and broader surgery categories. Public data do not cover every procedure or facility. Read the hospital measure limits and ASC measure limits. The guide brings information together to support your decision. It does not replace the original reporting sources. Choose a care or procedure category in the guide to see relevant available measures. The optional “Your notes about the care you need” field records your own details; typing a procedure name there does not search for it or retrieve additional results.
Does this site recommend the best facility for me?
No. Choosing Quality Care does not rank facilities or recommend a single “best” choice. It helps you explore public information and discuss your options with healthcare professionals.
Consider the findings alongside your clinical needs, insurance coverage, location, availability, and personal preferences. No single report or rating should be the sole basis for choosing care.
Why do different sources give different ratings?
Reporting organizations may examine different aspects of care, use different methods, or cover different time periods. One may emphasize patient safety, while another focuses on outcomes for a particular condition or patients’ experiences.
Different results do not necessarily mean one source is wrong. Look at what each source measures and how it relates to your needs.
What do the colored symbols mean?
The colored symbols summarize selected publicly reported findings and help identify information to review or discuss. Each automated report explains the reason for its color.
These summaries are created by Choosing Quality Care. They are separate from official ratings issued by CMS or other reporting organizations. A green symbol does not guarantee safe care, and a red symbol does not by itself establish that a facility is inappropriate for you.
What does missing information mean?
Automated retrieval can sometimes fail or time out. An “incomplete report” or “could not retrieve” message describes a connection problem; it does not establish that CMS has no data. Try again later, check Medicare Care Compare directly, or use the downloadable worksheet. Public reporting does not cover every diagnosis or procedure. More detailed information may exist in specialty clinical registries or the facility’s own systems. Some results are public; others are restricted to participating organizations or approved researchers. This guide does not retrieve every source. See examples of specialty registries and their public-access limits. Registry participation alone is not a quality rating. Missing information can have several explanations. A facility may have too few eligible cases for a reliable result, a measure may not apply, or participation in a reporting program may be voluntary.
Missing information does not mean there were no problems. It also does not automatically mean poor care or that a service is unavailable. Ask the facility about information important to your decision.
Can the site check my insurance or confirm available services?
No. Entering an insurance company or plan name will not return coverage information.
Ask your health plan whether the facility and clinicians involved are in network for your specific plan, whether the care is covered, and whether prior authorization is required.
Confirm services, appointments, referral requirements, and accessibility arrangements with the facility. The notes areas are for recording what you learn and questions still to ask.
Can I save my notes and return later?
The site does not offer personal accounts or save your comparison notes for a future visit. Keep the page open while working, and print or copy your notes before refreshing or closing it.
You can also download the fillable comparison worksheet (PDF, 4 pages), save it to your device, and type into it—or print a blank copy and write by hand. Save your completed PDF to keep your work. Website results and notes do not transfer into the worksheet automatically.
What if I have limited choices?
Insurance networks, location, appointment availability, and other circumstances may limit your options. The guide may still help you understand available information and prepare questions about the facility you expect to use.
It supports planned care decisions. Do not delay emergency care to compare facilities.