1.    The Five-Star provider preview reports will be available beginning Tuesday, January 19, 2010.  Providers can access the report from the Minimum Data Set (MDS) State Welcome pages available at the State servers for submission of Minimum Data Set data.

Provider Preview access information:

 ·   Visit the MDS State Welcome page available on the State servers where you submit MDS data to review your results.

·     To access these reports, select the Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reports (CASPER) Reporting link located at the bottom of the login page.

·    Once in the CASPER Reporting system,

i.    Click on the 'Folders' button and access the Five-Star Report in your 'st LTC     facid' folder,

 ii.    Where st is the 2-digit postal code of the state in which your facility is located, and

 iii.    Facid is the state assigned facid of your facility.

2.   The helpline will reopen beginning Tuesday, January 19 until Wednesday, February 3,  2010.  BetterCare@cms.hhs.gov is also available to address any Five Star rating questions and concerns.

3.   Nursing Home Compare will update with January’s Five-Star data on Thursday, January 28, 2010.

4.   Please visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CertificationandComplianc/13_FSQRS.asp for the latest Five-Star Quality Rating system information.