Menu

Announcement

Update to the Protocol for Providing De-identified Demographic Information about HHCAHPS Survey Respondents to Home Health Agencies
folder_openInformation for Home Health Agenciescalendar_todayPosted July 20, 2012

In an announcement posted on the Home Health Care CAHPS (HHCAHPS) Web Site on July 16, 2012, we indicated that it is not acceptable for HHCAHPS Survey vendors to provide their client home health agencies (HHAs) with de-identified survey responses to questions in the “About You” section of the HHCAHPS Survey questionnaire (Questions 26–32). This protocol was initiated because providing de-identified responses to the demographic questions may enable HHAs with small sample sizes to link survey responses to a specific patient. This protocol will ensure that patients’ confidentiality and right to privacy are protected.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is amending the protocol referenced above to allow approved HHCAHPS vendors to provide de-identified demographic data (based on responses to Questions 26-32) to its client HHAs in the aggregate, as long as there are a minimum of 10 patients who responded to the question. For example, if 9 or fewer patients provided a response to Q31, it is not acceptable to provide de-identified results (even aggregated) for Q31 to the HHA. Similarly, if 10 or more respondents provided an answer to Q27, it is acceptable to provide de-identified results for Q27 to the HHA.

This protocol is in effect as of today (July 19, 2012); HHCAHPS vendors do not have to revise any reports previously submitted to their HHA clients but are expected to adhere to this protocol for any results reported to HHAs after this date.

Please contact the HHCAHPS Coordination Team via e-mail at hhcahps@rti.org or call toll-free at (866) 354-0985 if you have any questions.