Northwell Health Secures Seven Five-Star CMS Ratings in 2026
Event summary
- Seven Northwell Health hospitals earned five-star ratings from CMS in 2026, the highest possible score, up from previous years.
- Twelve Northwell hospitals received four-star or better ratings, with six improving their ratings year-over-year.
- Only 12% of 3,203 reporting hospitals nationwide earned five-star status, highlighting Northwell's outperformance.
- Top-performing hospitals include Glen Cove, Huntington, Lenox Hill, Mather, North Shore University, Northern Westchester, and Sharon.
- Northwell is the largest nonprofit health system in the Northeast with 28 hospitals and 106,000 employees.
The big picture
Northwell Health's seven five-star CMS ratings underscore its commitment to quality care, positioning it as a leader in the Northeast healthcare market. The ratings, based on outcomes, patient experience, and process metrics, highlight Northwell's ability to deliver consistent, high-quality care across its hospitals. This achievement comes as healthcare systems face increasing pressure to demonstrate value and efficiency, making Northwell a standout in an increasingly competitive landscape.
What we're watching
- Sustainability of Excellence
- Whether Northwell can maintain its high CMS ratings amid increasing regulatory scrutiny and evolving healthcare standards.
- Operational Scaling
- How Northwell will leverage its seven five-star hospitals to enhance its reputation and attract more patients and talent.
- Competitive Positioning
- The pace at which other health systems adopt similar quality metrics to compete with Northwell's leading performance.