The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the February 2026 quarterly refresh of the Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) data on the Care Compare tool at Medicare.gov. The updated information is now publicly available and reflects the most current performance data reported by hospices nationwide.

For providers, this is more than a routine data update. Care Compare is a primary source of information for patients and families making care decisions, as well as for referral partners, payers, and regulators evaluating hospice performance. Publicly reported results shape perception, influence referrals, and increasingly inform value-based purchasing and oversight activity.

What’s Included in the February 2026 Refresh

This update incorporates the following reporting periods:

• HIS assessment-based measures: Q2 2024 – Q1 2025
• CAHPS Hospice Survey measures: Q2 2023 – Q1 2025
• CAHPS Star Ratings: Q2 2023 – Q1 2025
• Claims-based measures: Q1 2023 – Q4 2024

Together, these data sets provide a comprehensive view of hospice performance across clinical quality, patient and caregiver experience, and utilization patterns.

HIS measures reflect hospice documentation and care processes captured through the Hospice Item Set. CAHPS measures and Star Ratings represent caregiver-reported experience with communication, symptom management, and overall satisfaction. Claims-based measures evaluate care patterns using Medicare administrative data.

Because these reporting windows span multiple quarters, performance trends—positive or negative—can influence public ratings for an extended period. Even modest shifts in documentation accuracy, caregiver communication practices, or survey response rates may affect publicly displayed results.

Why This Matters Now

Public reporting continues to carry operational and strategic implications:

• Referral sources increasingly review Care Compare data when evaluating hospice partners.
• Star Ratings are visible and easily interpreted by families comparing providers.
• Regulators and surveyors may look at trends when assessing risk and compliance posture.

Organizations that proactively monitor and respond to their reported data are better positioned to manage reputation, strengthen performance, and reduce regulatory vulnerability.

Action Steps for Hospices

1. Review Your Data Immediately
Confirm that publicly displayed results align with internal quality reports. Identify upward or downward trends and compare performance against state and national benchmarks.

2. Engage Your Leadership and Clinical Teams
Share findings with quality improvement, compliance, and clinical leadership. Transparent review supports accountability and shared ownership of improvement efforts.

3. Strengthen Documentation and Education
Use measure-level results to guide targeted staff education, documentation audits, and workflow improvements—particularly in areas that directly influence HIS and caregiver experience measures.

4. Monitor CAHPS Performance Closely
Communication, responsiveness, and symptom management remain central drivers of CAHPS scores. Reinforce interdisciplinary team practices that support consistent caregiver engagement.

5. Incorporate Findings into QAPI Planning
Align performance improvement projects with areas highlighted in the refresh. Ensure initiatives are measurable, time-bound, and tied to documented outcomes.

The February 2026 refresh is a timely reminder that quality reporting is not a passive exercise. Public data reflects daily clinical practice, documentation accuracy, and team coordination. Hospices that routinely analyze and act on their Care Compare results will be better positioned to demonstrate value, maintain strong referral relationships, and sustain high-quality care delivery.