Introduction: The Care Compare website, designed to help individuals find nursing home care, is set to undergo improvements with the introduction of the SEE Care Compare Act. This Senate bill, introduced by Senators Mike Braun (R-IN) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), aims to enhance the visibility and user-friendliness of Care Compare, addressing concerns about outdated information and lack of context. Let’s explore the key features of the bill and how it could benefit individuals seeking quality nursing home care.

1. Making Care Compare More Discoverable Online: The SEE Care Compare Act requires the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to review and update search engine optimization practices for the website. This ensures that Care Compare becomes easier to find online, allowing individuals to access the valuable information it provides.
2. Enhancing User Analytics and Feedback: The bill also calls for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to study user analytics and submit a report to the Senate. This analysis aims to evaluate user behavior and preferences, enabling improvements to be made based on user feedback. Care Compare’s design, structure, and content will be scrutinized to address the specific needs and expectations of users.
3. Benchmarking Analytics and Assessing Impact: To gauge the effectiveness of the changes, the SEE Care Compare Act mandates that the report analytics be benchmarked against future analytics. This comparison will determine whether the alterations in search engine optimization and other modifications have positively influenced consumer behavior and accessibility.
4. Empowering Informed Decision-Making: The bipartisan nature of this legislation underscores the importance of informed decision-making in choosing nursing home care. By improving Care Compare’s accessibility and accuracy, individuals and their families will have access to up-to-date, reliable information. The Five-Star quality ratings, health inspections, and other metrics provided by Care Compare will serve as invaluable tools for selecting the most suitable skilled nursing provider.

Conclusion: The SEE Care Compare Act presents an opportunity to enhance the Care Compare website, ensuring its usability, accuracy, and accessibility. By leveraging user feedback, improving search engine optimization, and assessing the impact of changes, the bill aims to empower individuals and families with the information they need to make informed decisions about nursing home care. This legislation exemplifies the commitment to quality care and the continuous improvement of resources available to the public.