CAHPS Insider: April 2026

HHCAHPS

Coordination Team Quarterly Review

The April 2026 edition of the HHCAHPS Coordination Team Quarterly Review (CTQR) newsletter has been published, offering key updates for survey vendors and home health agencies.

This quarter’s edition includes information for HHAs about participating in the new CY 2028 annual payment update (APU) period, which began April 1, 2026. Highlights include key dates for the revised HHCAHPS Survey launching with the April 2026 sample month. Modified HHCAHPS Survey measures will be publicly reported beginning in October 2027.

The newsletter is available on the HHCAHPS website under the General Information tab.

Preview Reports

Preview Reports reflecting results from the HHCAHPS Survey for Q4 2024 – Q3 2025 (October 2024 – September 2025) are

now available on the HHCAHPS website under the For HHAs tab. HHA users must be logged in to access their report.

These Preview Reports present the results that will be publicly reported and include Star Ratings for agencies with 40 or more completed surveys during the four-quarter reporting period.

The same data are scheduled to be updated on Care Compare in April 2026.

Additional resources are available to help interpret the reports, including Understanding the HHCAHPS Survey Preview Reports and HHCAHPS Star Ratings Information, both accessible on the HHCAHPS website.

OAS CAHPS

Response Rate Percentiles by Mode Report

CMS has released a new OAS CAHPS Response Rate Percentiles by Mode Report, now available in the Quick Links box on the OAS CAHPS website homepage. This report provides response rate percentile information by survey mode to support benchmarking and performance review for OAS CAHPS participants

The current report reflects data from patients who received an outpatient surgery or procedure between April 2024 and March 2025.

CMS has indicated that this report will be updated quarterly, in alignment with routine refreshes of OAS CAHPS public reporting results.

Facilities are encouraged to review this resource as part of ongoing efforts to monitor response rates and assess survey administration performance.

ACO REACH

2026 Fielding Schedule and Vendor Authorization Period

CMS has released the 2026 CAHPS fielding schedule, outlining key dates for upcoming survey administration activities. As part of this cycle, the vendor authorization period will be open from June 1, 2026 – July 27, 2026. Participating facilities should ensure vendor authorizations are completed during this window to support timely and compliant survey fielding.

To help prepare patients for survey participation, CMS also makes Waiting Room FAQs available in both English and Spanish. These materials are intended to be printed and displayed in waiting areas so patients know what to expect and understand the importance of their feedback.

2026 will be the final year of the ACO REACH Model.

PIX

2027 IPF PPS Proposed Rule Confirms Continued Role of PIX

CMS has released the FY 2027 Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities (IPF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) proposed rule, which includes proposed updates to the IPF Quality Reporting (IPFQR) Program.

CMS proposes to include the Patient Experience (PIX) measure as part of the IPF Quality Reporting Program measure set, reinforcing the continued focus on patient experience as a core component of quality measurement for inpatient psychiatric facilities.

The proposed rule is available for public inspection, and CMS is accepting public comments through June 1, 2026, with a final rule expected in August 2026.

Stakeholders interested in shaping the final measure set, including the continued use of PIX, are encouraged to review the proposal and submit comments during the open comment period here.

For additional context, CMS has also released a FY 2027 IPF PPS Proposed Rule Fact Sheet summarizing key payment and quality reporting provisions.

External Submission Deadlines

If you have any questions regarding the information included in this edition of the CAHPS Insider, please contact NRC Health CAHPS Compliance at CAHPSCompliance@nrchealth.com.