Apr 5 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health and Human Services (HHS), invites public comments by June 4, 2024 regarding the proposed Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and Medicare Fee-For-Service Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Survey (CMS-R-246).
CMS is required to collect and report information on the quality of health care services and prescription drug coverage available to persons enrolled in a Medicare health or prescription drug plan under provisions in the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA). Specifically, the MMA under Sec. 1860D-4 (Information to Facilitate Enrollment) requires CMS to conduct consumer satisfaction surveys regarding Medicare prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans and report this information to Medicare beneficiaries prior to the Medicare annual enrollment period. The Medicare CAHPS survey meets the requirement of collecting and publicly reporting consumer satisfaction information. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 also requires the collection of information about fee-for-service plans. The CAHPS survey measures are incorporated into the Part C and D Star Ratings that are published on www.medicare.gov each fall to help consumers choose a Medicare plan. A subset of the CAHPS measures is also included in the Medicare & You Handbook. CAHPS information from MA contracts also feeds into the calculation of MA Quality Bonus Payment Ratings that are required by statute and regulation.
The primary purpose of the Medicare CAHPS surveys is to provide information to Medicare beneficiaries to help them make more informed choices among health and prescription drug plans available to them. Survey results are reported by CMS in the Medicare & You Handbook published each fall and on the Medicare Plan Finder website. Beneficiaries can compare CAHPS scores for each health and drug plan as well as compare MA and FFS scores when making enrollment decisions. The Medicare CAHPS also provides data to help CMS and others monitor the quality and performance of Medicare health and prescription drug plans and identify areas to improve the quality of care and services provided to enrollees of these plans. CAHPS data are included in the Medicare Part C & D Star Ratings and used to calculate MA Quality Bonus Payments.
Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan CAHPS (MA and PDP CAHPS):
https://www.cms.gov/data-research/research/consumer-assessment-healthcare-providers-systems/medicare-advantage-and-prescription-drug-plan-cahps
Fee-for-Service (FFS) CAHPS:
https://www.cms.gov/data-research/research/consumer-assessment-healthcare-providers-systems/fee-service-cahps
Draft CAHPS Survey instrument and technical documentation:
https://www.cms.gov/regulations-and-guidance/legislation/paperworkreductionactof1995/pra-listing-items/cms-r-246
FRN:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2024-07202 #2
