US dialysis facilities: the national rating picture
CMS publishes a five-star rating for dialysis facilities based on patient survival, hospitalisation, readmission, transfusion, emergency-department visits and transplant waitlisting. Across the country, most rated facilities land in three stars — but the spread between states is wide. 7,490 facilities6,999 rated
Ratings distribution
| Rating | Facilities | Share of rated |
|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 560 | 8.0% |
| 4 stars | 1,209 | 17.3% |
| 3 stars | 2,838 | 40.5% |
| 2 stars | 1,578 | 22.5% |
| 1 stars | 814 | 11.6% |
States with the highest share of four- and five-star facilities
| State | Facilities | Rated | Four stars or better |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | 26 | 20 | 65% |
| Massachusetts | 83 | 75 | 56% |
| New Jersey | 192 | 182 | 51% |
| Connecticut | 49 | 46 | 50% |
| Colorado | 83 | 81 | 49% |
| Utah | 53 | 49 | 49% |
| Hawaii | 41 | 40 | 48% |
| California | 734 | 684 | 43% |
| Kansas | 59 | 54 | 43% |
| Minnesota | 113 | 107 | 38% |
| New York | 345 | 316 | 38% |
| Maryland | 169 | 152 | 34% |
| Iowa | 62 | 58 | 31% |
| Idaho | 28 | 26 | 31% |
| Virginia | 206 | 197 | 30% |
States with fewer than 20 rated facilities are excluded.
What the rating does and does not capture
The star rating summarises outcomes, not amenities or convenience. Two facilities with the same stars can differ in whether they offer home haemodialysis training, how many stations they run, and whether they have a late shift — details worth checking for anyone choosing a centre.
Method
Counts and averages come from the CMS Dialysis Facility listing; "Not Available" ratings are excluded. Data: CMS Provider Data Catalog (public domain).