On July 27, CMS published one-to-five-star ratings of the overall quality of hospitals, designed to help patients and their loved ones compare hospitals side-by-side. While the rating system does have its flaws, it’s a step in the right direction to increase transparency and accountability.

President Rita Numerof discusses what these ratings mean for healthcare executives and consumers in her recent commentary for RealClearHealth, Hospital Star Ratings Show Patients, Providers That Not All Care Is Equal.