CAHPS Insider: December 2025

HCAHPS

Public Reporting Update

Publicly reported HCAHPS data have been refreshed on Care Compare to display results from Q1 2024 – Q4 2024 (January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024).

Preview Reports

Inpatient Preview Reports are available now through December 23, 2025 by logging in to the HQR Portal. Preview Reports display results that will be publicly reported on Care Compare and in the Provider Data Catalog in January 2026.

OAS CAHPS

Final Rule

The 2026 OPPS/ASC Final Rule did not contain any changes to the OAS CAHPS Survey. CMS explored integrating questions from the Information Transfer PRO-PM survey into OAS CAHPS to reduce patient survey burden but decided against it due to specification changes required. The idea may be revisited in the future.

CMS confirmed it is not finalizing adoption of the Information Transfer PRO-PM for the ASCQR Program at this time.

A CMS Fact Sheet is available here.

Public Reporting Update

OAS CAHPS Survey results from Q1 2024 – Q4 2024 (January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024) are now publicly reported on CMS websites.

Data for both ASCs and HOPDs are available in the Provider Data Catalog. Because this refresh begins including four quarters of data linked to reimbursement for HOPDs, these results are also available on Care Compare.

New CPT Exclusions

CMS has added the CPT codes below to the list of OAS CAHPS exclusions. No action is required on the part of NRC Health Partners. These exclusions will be automatically applied.

→ 19082 – Add-on code for additional lesions, including stereotactic guidance

→ 19084 – Add-on code for additional lesions, including ultrasound guidance.

→ 19086 – Add-on code for additional lesions, including magnetic resonance guidance

Submission Status Notifications

ASCs and HOPDs will receive QualityNet OAS CAHPS data submission status notifications at 30, 15, 10, and 5 days in advance of each quarterly data submission deadline and one day following the deadline.

These updates are snapshots in time at each interval and may not reflect the most recent submission activity. For real-time submission status, participants can review their Data Submission Report.

HHCAHPS

Final Rule

CMS has released the Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) Final Rule, which includes significant changes to the HHCAHPS Survey and reported measures.

Key Highlights:

→ Effective April 2026 sample month CMS will implement a revised HHCAHPS Survey.

→ Survey changes:

‒ Reduced by 8 items

‒ Addition of 3 new questions

→ New and updated measures will appear on Care Compare starting October 2027.

→ Click here for the crosswalk of changes to the survey and reported measures.

→ Resources:

‒ CMS Fact Sheet summary of the Proposed Rule

‒ Complete Final Rule on the Federal Register

→ CMS took public comments related to offering a web mode of administration under consideration, but shared feedback that due to the results of the 2022 mode experiment, which showed a low participation rate and low capture rate of patient emails, they would not be pursuing a web mode at this time.

Public Reporting Update

HHCAHPS Survey results from Q2 2024 – Q1 2025 (April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025) are now publicly reported on Care Compare.

Preview Reports

HHA Provider Preview Reports are now available in iQIES. The results contained in these reports will be publicly reported on Care Compare and in the Provider Data Catalog in January 2026. HHCAHPS results are included for Q3, 2024 – Q2, 2025 (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025).

Preview Reports will be available until December 18, 2025.

CAHPS Hospice

Public Reporting Update

Care Compare data have been refreshed to display CAHPS Hospice results from caregivers of Q1 2023 – Q4 2024 (January 1, 2023 –

December 31, 2024) decedents.

Preview Reports

Hospices can review their results that will be published on

Care Compare in advance of the February 2026 refresh. Preview Reports reflecting CAHPS Hospice results from Q2 2023 – Q1 2025 (April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2025) and Star Ratings are available for review through the Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reports (CASPER) application until December 18, 2025. The reports will be available to download for an additional 30 days after the preview period ends.

Please click here for additional information on CAHPS Hospice Preview Reports.

Final Rule

CMS has released the Calendar Year (CY) 2026 End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS) Final Rule, introducing several updates, including changes to the ICH CAHPS Survey.

Changes to take effect with the Spring 2026 fielding (pending OMB approval) include:

→ Removing 23 questions, bringing the survey from 62 to 39 questions, reducing time to complete from 16 to 12 minutes.

→ Updating the ICH CAHPS clinical measure by removing questions from the ICH CAHPS Survey beginning with PY 2028.

For a detailed look at the Spring 2026 survey revisions that have now been finalized, please click here.

A CMS overview Fact Sheet is available here. The complete Final Rule is available on the Federal Register.

ICH CAHPS

Patient-Mix Coefficients, Star Ratings and State and National Averages

Patient-Mix Coefficients and information on Star Ratings are available here. State and national averages for ICH CAHPS composite measures and global ratings are available here.

Patient Address Accuracy in EQRS

The ICH CAHPS Coordination Team relies on EQRS data to draw survey samples and provide patient contact information to survey vendors. A recent review of the 2025 Fall Survey sampling data revealed instances where dialysis facility addresses were entered as patient home addresses. This error can lead to survey materials being mailed to the facility, compromising patient privacy and sample validity.

Action Needed: Facilities should review their procedures for entering and updating patient contact information in EQRS and update patient contact information to ensure accuracy for October – December 2025, the sampling window for the 2026 Spring Survey. Accurate addresses help maintain survey integrity and protect patient confidentiality.

External Submission Deadlines