Leapfrog’s Hospital Scoring Methodology Is Unlawful, Judge Says

A Florida federal judge blocked the patient safety advocate Leapfrog Group from continuing to grade hospitals using its current scoring system, which rates them differently depending upon what data they disclose to it.

The methodology “has no scientific basis, unfairly penalizes nonparticipating hospitals, and misrepresents hospital safety,” violating the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks said in a March 6 order.

Leapfrog scores hospitals based on patient safety and quality data collected through surveys with participating facilities and from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The company changed its methodology in 2024 to ...