BIRMINGHAM — Data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services show the percentage of Alabama nursing homes achieving the top grade in the government’s new five-tier rating system is higher than the national average.

Alabama Nursing Home Association spokesman John Matson said the new rating system shows that the state’s nursing homes are doing a good job.

The new rating system gives homes star ratings from a low of one star to a high of five stars. The ratings are based on health inspection surveys, staffing information and quality of care measures.

About 20 percent of Alabama’s 232 nursing homes earned a five-star rating and only 12 percent of the nation’s 15,800 nursing homes got that top rating.

About 17 percent of Alabama homes got the lowest rating of one star compared to 22 percent nationwide.