What is HHCAHPS?

HHCAHPS Is a survey specifically designed for Home Health Companies. CAHPS stands for Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems. The definition of CAHPS can be found on http://www.cms.hhs.gov/cahps/

“The term CAHPS refers to a comprehensive and evolving family of surveys that ask consumers and patients to evaluate the interpersonal aspects of health care. CAHPS surveys probe those aspects of care for which consumers and patients are the best and/or only source of information, as well as those that consumers and patients have identified as being important. CAHPS initially stood for the Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Study, but as the products have evolved beyond health plans, the acronym now stands for Consumer Assessment of Health Providers and Systems.”

HHCAHPS is a survey of 34 questions specifically about home health. As quoted on CMS’s official website, patients eligible for the HHCAHPS survey are those who are Medicare or Medicaid patients, and who:

1. are at least 18 years of age at time of service and their home health care;
2. have received at least two skilled care visits from agency personnel from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010;
3. were not discharged to hospice care during the time of service;
4. did not have “maternity” as the primary reason for receiving home health care; and
5. did not request a “no publicity status.”

For help with HHCAHPS, or to speak with an HHCAHPS expert, email inquiries@mycahps.com or call 801-293-0700. 

--Craig Christiansen

www.mycahps.com

www.pinnacleqi.com