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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the final Hospital CAHPS (HCAHPS) survey instrument. The HCAHPS survey is the first national attempt to standardize patients’ satisfaction with care in order to make “apples to apples” comparisons.

Discharge Planning Adivsor: CMS Releases HCAHPS Survey

January 1, 2006

Discharge Planning Adivsor

CMS Releases HCAHPS Survey

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the final Hospital CAHPS (HCAHPS) survey instrument. The HCAHPS survey is the first national attempt to standardize patients’ satisfaction with care in order to make "apples to apples" comparisons.

Hospitals will begin using HCAHPS through the Hospital Quality Alliance, a private/public partnership that includes the American Hospital Association, the Federation of American Hospitals, the Association of American Medical Colleges, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, National Quality Forum, AARP, and CMS/AHRQ, and other stakeholders. Participation by hospitals will be voluntary and results will be publicly reported on the HHS Hospital Compare web site.

The final survey instrument was published in the Nov. 7 Federal Register. After a 30-day comment period, which closed on Dec. 7, the Office of Management and Budget was to have 30 days to approve it. CMS expects to begin national implementation in 2006.

For more information on HCAHPS and CMS, go to: www.cms.hhs.gov/regulations/pra/.