Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, July 28, 2026
CONTACT: WHA Press (press@wha.org)
CONTACT: WHA Press (press@wha.org)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, July 28, 2026
CONTACT: WHA Press (press@wha.org)
Wisconsin Hospitals Continue to Rank Among Nation’s Best in Quality
Fourth highest for top CMS Star Ratings; highest among states with 50+ hospitals
MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin hospitals once again earned national recognition for health care quality, ranking well above the national average in recently released Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
CMS star ratings are based on 45 measures across five categories: mortality, safety of care, readmissions, patient experience, and timely and effective care. This year, 86 Wisconsin hospitals received a CMS star rating, the highest number of Wisconsin hospitals ever rated and 19 more than last year. The increase reflects more hospitals meeting CMS eligibility thresholds, which are based in part on patient volumes and the number of quality measures available for reporting.
According to CMS, 65% of Wisconsin hospitals received four- or five-star ratings, compared to the national average of 42%. This is the fourth-highest overall percentage of four and five-star-rated hospitals in any state and the highest percentage for states with 50 or more hospitals. Wisconsin’s performance continues a multi-year trend of hospitals across the state earning among the highest quality rankings in the country.
“Wisconsin hospitals continue to show that high-quality care is being delivered in communities across our state,” said Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) President and CEO Kyle O’Brien. “These results reflect the dedication of hospital teams who are focused every day on improving outcomes, strengthening patient experience and serving as trusted anchors in their communities. High-quality health care is also a critical community asset for families, employers and the overall strength of Wisconsin’s economy.
The strong CMS results are the latest recognition Wisconsin hospitals have received for quality and patient satisfaction. Recent Healthgrades recognitions underscored Wisconsin hospitals’ strong performance in patient experience, reinforcing the state’s focus on delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. In addition, the Chartis Center for Rural Health named numerous Wisconsin hospitals to both its Top 100 and Top 20 lists, distinctions that were also recognized by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), highlighting excellence among rural providers.
The latest CMS Star Ratings are featured in the latest update of WHA’s Quality Snapshot, a digital resource highlighting Wisconsin hospitals’ statewide quality performance. The resource brings together key data points on hospital quality, safety and patient experience to help policymakers, employers and the public better understand the value hospitals deliver.
“Quality is not a single score or one moment in time. It is the result of sustained focus, teamwork and continuous improvement,” said WHA Chief Quality Officer Nadine Allen. “Wisconsin hospitals continue to demonstrate that commitment through strong performance across a wide range of measures, from safety and outcomes to patient experience and timely care.
For more than 20 years, WHA’s CheckPoint tool has led the nation for its statewide, voluntary hospital quality reporting program. CheckPoint allows hospitals, patients and employers to benchmark performance and compare results, driving ongoing improvements in patient care across Wisconsin.
The CMS Star Ratings recognition follows WHA’s announcement earlier this month that Wisconsin hospitals led the nation in five-star ratings for nurse communication, with more Wisconsin hospitals earning the top rating than any other state. Together, these results underscore Wisconsin hospitals’ continued commitment to high-quality, patient-centered care and the strong hospital teams delivering that care every day.
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ABOUT THE WISCONSIN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
WHA advocates on behalf of its 150-plus member hospitals and health systems to enable the delivery of high-quality, high-value care to the citizens of Wisconsin. Learn more at wha.org.
CMS star ratings are based on 45 measures across five categories: mortality, safety of care, readmissions, patient experience, and timely and effective care. This year, 86 Wisconsin hospitals received a CMS star rating, the highest number of Wisconsin hospitals ever rated and 19 more than last year. The increase reflects more hospitals meeting CMS eligibility thresholds, which are based in part on patient volumes and the number of quality measures available for reporting.
According to CMS, 65% of Wisconsin hospitals received four- or five-star ratings, compared to the national average of 42%. This is the fourth-highest overall percentage of four and five-star-rated hospitals in any state and the highest percentage for states with 50 or more hospitals. Wisconsin’s performance continues a multi-year trend of hospitals across the state earning among the highest quality rankings in the country.
“Wisconsin hospitals continue to show that high-quality care is being delivered in communities across our state,” said Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) President and CEO Kyle O’Brien. “These results reflect the dedication of hospital teams who are focused every day on improving outcomes, strengthening patient experience and serving as trusted anchors in their communities. High-quality health care is also a critical community asset for families, employers and the overall strength of Wisconsin’s economy.
The strong CMS results are the latest recognition Wisconsin hospitals have received for quality and patient satisfaction. Recent Healthgrades recognitions underscored Wisconsin hospitals’ strong performance in patient experience, reinforcing the state’s focus on delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. In addition, the Chartis Center for Rural Health named numerous Wisconsin hospitals to both its Top 100 and Top 20 lists, distinctions that were also recognized by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), highlighting excellence among rural providers.
The latest CMS Star Ratings are featured in the latest update of WHA’s Quality Snapshot, a digital resource highlighting Wisconsin hospitals’ statewide quality performance. The resource brings together key data points on hospital quality, safety and patient experience to help policymakers, employers and the public better understand the value hospitals deliver.
“Quality is not a single score or one moment in time. It is the result of sustained focus, teamwork and continuous improvement,” said WHA Chief Quality Officer Nadine Allen. “Wisconsin hospitals continue to demonstrate that commitment through strong performance across a wide range of measures, from safety and outcomes to patient experience and timely care.
For more than 20 years, WHA’s CheckPoint tool has led the nation for its statewide, voluntary hospital quality reporting program. CheckPoint allows hospitals, patients and employers to benchmark performance and compare results, driving ongoing improvements in patient care across Wisconsin.
The CMS Star Ratings recognition follows WHA’s announcement earlier this month that Wisconsin hospitals led the nation in five-star ratings for nurse communication, with more Wisconsin hospitals earning the top rating than any other state. Together, these results underscore Wisconsin hospitals’ continued commitment to high-quality, patient-centered care and the strong hospital teams delivering that care every day.
###
ABOUT THE WISCONSIN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
WHA advocates on behalf of its 150-plus member hospitals and health systems to enable the delivery of high-quality, high-value care to the citizens of Wisconsin. Learn more at wha.org.
