CMS' assigned star ratings to more than 4,500 hospitals nationwide based on their performance across seven areas of quality. This is the first star ratings update since February 2019. This year: 228 hospitals received one star, 710 hospitals received two stars, 1,191 hospitals received three stars, 1,136 hospitals received four stars, and 407 hospitals received five stars. Quality measures are tools that help measure or quantify healthcare processes, outcomes, patient perceptions, and organizational structure and/or systems that are associated with the ability to provide high-quality health care and/or that relate to one or more quality goals for health care. These goals include: effective, safe, efficient, patient-centered, equitable, and timely care.