Final answer:
The CMS issues star ratings on a yearly basis in October to evaluate the quality of healthcare providers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) issues star ratings on a yearly basis. The new star ratings are typically released in October each year. These star ratings are used to evaluate and compare the quality of healthcare providers, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and dialysis facilities. The ratings are based on various quality measures, including patient satisfaction, patient outcomes, and patient safety.