Our Data Methodology & Editorial Standards
US Assisted Living Guide is an independent public interest directory designed to demystify federal safety audits and pricing dynamics in senior long-term care. We operate without referral kickbacks, paid ranking positions, or facility sponsorship.
Primary Data Provenance
Every health violation metric, staffing ratio, and star rating on our platform originates from publicly available administrative datasets published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an operating division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
- Health Inspection Surveys: Derived from unannounced on-site recertification inspections conducted by state survey agencies on a 9 to 15 month cycle.
- Staffing Ratings: Calculated using the CMS Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) reporting system, tracking auditable direct clinical nursing hours per resident day (HPRD).
- Cost of Care Benchmarks: Monthly pricing baselines are integrated from the comprehensive 2025/2026 CareScout Cost of Care Survey across all 50 states[cite: 3, 6, 7].
Research Team & Anti-Bias Policy
Our data analysis team monitors federal policy changes, CMS Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS) updates, and state regulatory boards.
Unlike commercial referral brokerages, we do not charge families for assistance, nor do we receive commission fees or placement incentives from care facilities. Providers cannot pay to remove inspection citations, upgrade ratings, or modify comparative benchmark standings.
Corrections & Regulatory Inquiries
While our datasets reflect official CMS publication releases, state surveys are subject to ongoing administrative reviews, formal dispute resolution processes, and approved Plans of Correction (PoC).