The final Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Hospice Survey question set has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
 
CMS announced Dec. 3 that the survey had cleared the hurdle, adding that English, Spanish, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese mail survey materials are now available to view or download at www.hospicecahpssurvey.org. Hospices also can view or download English or Spanish telephone scripts.
 
The survey includes 47 questions that family members and/or friends will need to fill out about experiences of care (HHL 7/21/14). In addition, a supplemental question must be included in the mail and telephone questionnaire if hospices wish to view the survey responses linked to respondents’ name and other identifying information.
 
The survey’s website also has an approved vendor list and lays out eligibility criteria for vendors interested in participating.
 
 Starting next year, hospices will need to work with vendors to submit this data to avoid a 2% payment reduction starting in 2017.
 
Related links: View mail survey materials at http://bit.ly/1yS4utc. View a telephone script at http://bit.ly/1yWEePq.