Criteria for grading in-home services
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services gave thousands of home health agencies a rating of one to five stars based on how often:

• the home health team began its patients’ care in a timely manner.

• the team made sure patients received a flu shot for the current flu season.

• the team taught patients (or their family caregivers) about their prescribed drugs.

• home health patients got better at walking or moving around.

• patients got better at getting in and out of bed.

• patients had less pain when moving around.

• patients got better at bathing.

• patients’ breathing improved.

• patients had to be admitted to the hospital.