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HHCAHPS Mode Experiment Coming in 2021

February 2, 2021

In a recent HHCAHPS vendor update training, it was announced that CMS is planning to conduct a mode experiment in 2021. They will use this as an opportunity to test the current approved survey modes, as well as a mixed-methodology that will include web, and is scheduled to begin in late fall 2021.

If you’re interested in participating, recruitment to participate in this experiment will begin in February 2021.

Additionally, work to shorten the survey instrument is underway. While it hasn’t been finalized yet, they anticipate that Overall Rating of Care, Recommending, and items regarding Communication will remain, and they will reduce the number of questions regarding medications. They are also planning additional questions about patient and agency staff interactions. The updated survey is not likely to be used until 2023.

Finally, due to the pandemic:

  • Care Compare (the rebranded Home Health Compare website), currently has data from January 2019 to December 2019 and will not refresh again until January 2022. HHCAHPS Survey Preview Reports will also not refresh until that time, when they will have July 2020–June 2021 survey data.
  • CY 2022 APU compliance will depend on July 2020March 2021 data when it is evaluated this fall, as April-Jun 2020 was a COVID-19 excepted quarter.

If you have further questions on the latest CMS update, please email our PRC CAHPS® team at [email protected].