This bill makes hospital inspection results more open to the public, with a special focus on psychiatric hospitals. Two years after it becomes law, groups that accredit hospitals must include a standard inspection form (CMS-2567 or a new version the government develops with stakeholders) in their surveys, along with any extra helpful info, so people can better compare care quality . The government will also publish selected inspection and certification information for psychiatric hospitals on the Medicare Care Compare website and keep it up to date, while protecting patient and individual provider privacy under federal health privacy rules .

The Secretary of Health and Human Services will work with hospitals and accreditation organizations to decide what information to share and how to present it in a clear, useful way for patients and families. The shared information must not reveal who specific patients or individual health care providers are .

• Key points
  • Who is affected: Hospital accreditation bodies, psychiatric hospitals, patients and families using Care Compare .
  • What changes: Standard inspection forms included in surveys; selected psychiatric hospital inspection and certification details posted online for public viewing; privacy protections required .
  • When: Starting two years after the law takes effect; additional timelines for developing the new standard form and deciding what to publish will be set by the Secretary in consultation with stakeholders .