Reminder Regarding Use of Supplemental Questions
folder_openChanges to Protocols and Guidelines, Information for Home Health Agenciescalendar_todayPosted March 9, 2012

The purpose of this announcement is to remind home health agencies (HHAs) and survey vendors that supplemental questions added to the Home Health Care CAHPS (HHCAHPS) Survey questionnaire must comply with guidelines provided in Chapters V, VI and VII in the HHCAHPS Protocols and Guidelines Manual.

In addition to those guidelines, it is not acceptable to add questions to the HHCAHPS Survey that are intended to market or promote services provided by the HHA or any other organization, nor is it acceptable to add questions asking sample patients to identify other individuals who may need home health care services. Questions about other individuals needing home health care are not permitted, due to privacy and confidentiality issues they raise if personally identifying information (i.e., name, telephone number) were to be shared with the home health agency without that person’s knowledge and permission. Survey vendors should review the appropriateness of supplemental questions added to the HHCAHPS Survey and share any concerns they have about supplemental questions directly with the HHA and/or the HHCAHPS Coordination Team.

If you have any questions about this protocol, please contact the HHCAHPS Survey Coordination Team via e-mail at hhcahps@rti.org or call toll-free at (866) 354-0985.