Press Release

Wisconsin Hospitals Among Nation’s Best in Quality

Sixth 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). The ratings, based on 45 measures across five categories including safety of care, patient experience, timely and effective care, mortality and readmissions – placed Wisconsin’s hospitals sixth in the nation for the percentage of hospitals earning four or five stars.

According to CMS, 65% of Wisconsin hospitals received four- or five-star ratings, compared to the national average of 36%. This is the sixth-highest overall percentage of four and five-star-rated hospitals in any state and the highest percentage for states with 50 or more hospitals.

“These results reflect a statewide commitment to excellence that benefits every patient, in every community,” said Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) President and CEO Kyle O’Brien. “Wisconsin’s hospitals have a longstanding track record of high-quality healthcare that consistently delivers some of the best outcomes in the nation. As a critical community need, high-quality health care is important for all types of employers seeking to attract and retain talent in Wisconsin.”

The strong CMS results are the latest recognition Wisconsin hospitals have received in 2025 for quality and patient satisfaction. Wisconsin ranked first among peer states with 100 or more hospitals for patient recommendations, was named a top 10 state for health care by WalletHub and saw its critical access hospitals recognized among the top 10 nationally for quality reporting and performance by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as a part of the Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP). These achievements reflect Wisconsin hospitals’ ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care in our communities.

“High quality isn’t just a measure – it’s an experience patients can see, feel and trust,” said WHA Chief Quality Officer Nadine Allen. “These ratings are a direct result of the dedication, skill and compassion that hospital teams bring to their work every single day.”

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.