FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Where does the data come from?
All facility data comes from CMS Care Compare, the federal database maintained by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. We do not add, alter, or interpret the underlying numbers — we display them in plain language and rate them against published national averages.
Why can't I find a facility I know exists?
WhoCaresHere only covers Medicare- and Medicaid-certified skilled nursing facilities. Facilities that accept only private pay, are licensed only at the state level, or operate as assisted living or independent living communities are not in the federal database and will not appear in search results.
How current is the data?
CMS updates the Care Compare database regularly, but there is always some lag between an event (an inspection, a fine, a staffing change) and when it appears in the public data. Inspection cycles run approximately annually. Always verify current conditions directly with the facility.
What does Good / Fair / Poor mean?
Each indicator is rated against published national averages and CMS thresholds. Good means at or better than national average; Fair means near average or below in a way worth noting; Poor means meaningfully below average or a serious flag. Hover over any rating pill to see the exact criteria used.
Is this site affiliated with CMS or the federal government?
No. WhoCaresHere is an independent site that displays publicly available federal data. We are not affiliated with CMS, the Department of Health and Human Services, or any government agency.
How do you make money?
We don't, currently. The site is free and supported by voluntary tips from people who find it useful. There are no ads, no data sales, no premium tier.
Do you store my searches?
No. Searches are not logged, stored, or associated with you in any way. There is no account to create and nothing is retained after you close the page.
Can I use this data for my own research or reporting?
The underlying data is public and comes from CMS. You are welcome to use WhoCaresHere as a starting point, but for research or journalism we recommend pulling directly from the CMS Care Compare data portal to ensure you have the most current and complete dataset.