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Announcement

Discrepancy Notification Report (DNR) Excel Template Has Been Updated for the CY 2027 APU
folder_openOther Announcementscalendar_todayPosted April 17, 2025

An updated Discrepancy Notification Report (DNR) Excel template, covering the sample months of January 2025 through March 2026 (for the calendar year 2027 annual payment update [APU] period), is now available. To access the template, HHCAHPS Survey vendors should log onto the HHCAHPS website, go to the “Forms for Vendors” tab, and select the “Discrepancy Notification Report” link. A link to the Excel template is available under Section III of the online DNR form.

As a reminder, the Excel template has prepopulated column headers that covers each piece of information that the Coordination Team and CMS need to evaluate a DNR submission. The updated Excel template still has three tabs: sample fielded late (“Late Start”), sample not fielded at all (“Missed Sampled Month”), and other situations (“Other”).

Below are some reminders for using the DNR Excel template:

  • Submit a new Excel template via email to the Coordination Team for each new DNR submission. The Excel template should only include information for the reported discrepancy (i.e., remove any information from previous DNR submissions).
  • If you need to update either the online DNR or the accompanying Excel template, you must update and resubmit both the accompanying online DNR and Excel template so the submission dates for both items match for auditing purposes.
  • We encourage vendors to use the Excel template with any DNR submissions, not just those with more than 5 CCNs.
  • If you use the Excel template, it is not necessary to repeat the information provided in the Excel template in Sections II and III of the online DNR form. Instead, you may point the reviewers to the Excel template for information by using language such as “see spreadsheet.”
  • Be sure to indicate that you are submitting an Excel template with a DNR submission by checking the box in Section III of the online form.
  • Do not add columns or change the order of columns in the Excel template.

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