Prepare NOW for the start of the Calendar Year 2027 Annual Payment Update (APU)
folder_openInformation for Home Health Agenciescalendar_todayPosted February 20, 2025

The calendar year (CY) 2027 annual payment update (APU) data collection requirement for HHCAHPS Survey participation begins with the April 2025 sample month. Medicare-certified home health agencies (HHAs) that are not yet participating in HHCAHPS and served 60 or more survey-eligible patients between April 1, 2024-March 31, 2025 should complete these preparatory steps as soon as possible:

1. Designate a staff person to serve as the agency’s HHCAHPS Survey Administrator (SA) and have that person register for login credentials on this website at the following link: https://homehealthcahps.org/For-HHAs/Register-for-Login-Credentials.
2. Then, register the agency’s CCN(s) via the “Register CCNs” link in the For HHAs menu tab after logged in.
3. Contract with an HHCAHPS Survey vendor listed on the website, beginning with the April 2025 sample month.  (https://homehealthcahps.org/General-Information/Approved-Survey-Vendors)
4. Then, complete the online Vendor Authorization form for that vendor on this website by selecting the “Authorize a Vendor” link in the For HHAs menu after logging in.

For more information on these start-up activities, please refer to the following documents:

• Getting Started (this document will be updated early April 2025 to reference the CY 2027 APU participation period): https://homehealthcahps.org/Portals/0/Docs/HHAResponsibilities_and_FAQs.pdf
• How to Authorize a Vendor: https://homehealthcahps.org/Portals/0/HHAs_Vendor_Auth_instructions.pdf

On the other hand, Medicare-certified HHAs that served fewer than 60 survey-eligible patients between April 1, 2024-March 31, 2025 are eligible for an exemption from participating in the HHCAHPS Survey. Such HHAs must complete the online HHCAHPS Participation Exemption Request (PER) form for the CY 2027 APU period, which will be available on the HHCAHPS website early April 2025. An announcement will be posted with more information about filing for an exemption and when the online PER form for the CY 2027 APU period is available.

Please contact the HHCAHPS Survey Coordination Team if you have any questions at hhcahps@rti.org or telephone (866) 354-0985.