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Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

Last updated October 2026

Care Close to Home is free for families. We earn money from agencies that pay for labeled placements. Here is exactly how that works.

Rankings can't be bought

Every ranked list comes from the same formula, based on public CMS Care Compare data, and is explained on How We Rank. No agency can pay to be ranked, to rank higher, or to keep a rival off a list. Sponsored placements, which any agency can buy, are labeled ads shown between ranks, never part of the ranking.

Paid placements are labeled

• City Partner: a showcase above a city's rankings, labeled "Partner · Paid placement."
• Sponsored: an ad between No. 3 and No. 4, labeled "Sponsored."
• Featured: a highlight on an agency's card in its earned position, labeled "Featured · paid highlight, same rank."

Badges

Top Pick badges are awarded only to agencies that make a list. Badges are never sold, and paid placements don't come with one.

Questions

If you think a placement isn't labeled clearly, tell us.