Announcement Clarifying Rules for HHAs to Alert Patients About the HHCAHPS Survey
folder_openInformation for Home Health Agenciescalendar_todayPosted September 16, 2010

CMS and the Coordination Team are posting this announcement based on questions received during the September 2010 Update Training. During this training session, CMS stated that Medicare-certified home health agencies participating in the Home Health Care CAHPS (HHCAHPS) Survey may inform all patients during the intake phase or in the agency’s admission materials that they may be contacted and asked to respond to a patient experience survey. If this information is conveyed to all patients during the intake phase, this is acceptable. It is not acceptable, however, to send letters or otherwise contact patients to let them know that they have been selected for the HHCAHPS and that their responses would be appreciated. Nor is it acceptable for home health agency provider staff (skilled staff, aides, etc.) to engage in discussions with their patients about the HHCAHPS Survey. Home health agencies may not contact patients in advance to ask them if they want to participate in the survey.

For patients currently receiving care, including long-term patients, it is appropriate to inform them during their next scheduled assessment that they may be asked to respond to a patient experience survey.

As stated during training sessions and in the Protocols and Guidelines Manual, patients selected into the HHCAHPS Survey sample have the right to refuse when contacted via mail or telephone.