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OAS CAHPS Public Reporting Results Refreshed on Provider Data Catalog (Quarter 1, 2024 through Quarter 4, 2024)
Public ReportingPosted November 26, 2025

Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery CAHPS (OAS CAHPS) Survey results based on responses from patients who received an outpatient surgery or procedure between January 2024 and December 2024 are now publicly available on CMS websites. Data for both ASCs and HOPDs is available on the Provider Data Catalog (PDC) website (formerly known as Data.Medicare.gov). The PDC website provides downloadable datasets (direct link: https://data.cms.gov/provider-data/). Starting with this refresh, which includes four quarters of data linked to reimbursement for HOPDs, OAS CAHPS data for HOPDs are now also available on Care Compare (direct link: https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/).

You can access OAS CAHPS Survey results at the facility, state and national levels. As a reminder, OAS CAHPS Survey results are updated quarterly, as shown in Table 16.2 of the OAS CAHPS Survey Protocols and Guidelines Manual.

For more information about how the data were analyzed and for the patient-mix adjustment factors that were used to statistically adjust the results that are currently being publicly reported, click on the "Patient Mix Adjustment Factors" in the Quick Links box on the Home page.

If you have any questions, please contact the OAS CAHPS Survey Coordination Team via e-mail at oascahps@rti.org or call toll-free (866) 590-7468.

OAS CAHPS Survey Vendor Update Training Q&A Have Been Posted
TrainingPosted November 25, 2025

The compiled summary of Q&A asked during the 2025 OAS CAHPS Survey Vendor Update Training session is now available and can be accessed here or by selecting "Training Materials" under the "Training" tab on the OAS CAHPS website.

Please contact the OAS CAHPS Survey Coordination Team via e-mail at oascahps@rti.org or call toll-free (866) 590-7468, if you have any questions.

Notice of Publication of the Final Rule for Calendar Year 2026
Final/Proposed RulesPosted November 25, 2025

The Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems and Quality Reporting Programs Final Rule has been published in the Federal Register today, November 25, 2025. The Final Rule is available here.

As stated in the Rule, CMS confirms OAS CAHPS Survey participation will continue to be linked to reimbursement in CY 2026 for HOPDs and ASCs.

To find information about OAS CAHPS in the Final Rule document (linked above), you can search "OAS CAHPS" in the PDF document.

The next update (CY 2027 Rule) will be proposed in July and finalized in November 2026. The CY 2027 Rule will reflect any planned changes that would impact the 2027 data collection period (CY 2029 payment determination).

If you have questions, you can contact the OAS CAHPS Survey Coordination Team via e-mail at oascahps@rti.org or call 1-866-590-7468.

RTI International will be closed November 27 and 28, 2025
Other AnnouncementsPosted November 24, 2025

RTI International will be closed on November 27 and 28, 2025 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. The OAS CAHPS Survey Coordination Team will respond to email and telephone inquiries that are received on those dates after RTI re-opens.

Please contact the OAS CAHPS Survey Coordination Team via e-mail at oascahps@rti.org or call toll-free (866) 590-7468, if you have any questions.

OAS CAHPS Survey Training Materials Have Been Posted
TrainingPosted November 10, 2025

The agendas and presentation slides for the Introduction to the Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery CAHPS (OAS CAHPS) Survey Self-Paced Training and the OAS CAHPS Survey Vendor Update Webinar Training are now available on the OAS CAHPS website.

These training materials can be accessed here or by selecting "Training Materials" under the "Training" tab on the OAS CAHPS website.

The OAS CAHPS Survey Coordination Team invites individuals who have registered for the Update Training to submit questions in advance of the November 12^th webinar. To do so, please send your question(s) to the Coordination Team via e-mail at oascahps@rti.org.

Updated Versions of Protocols and Guidelines Manual, Website User and Data Submission Manual, and XML File Layouts have been Posted
Survey MaterialsPosted November 10, 2025

Version 10.0 of the OAS CAHPS Protocols and Guidelines Manual, Version 9.0 of the OAS CAHPS Website User and Data Submission Manual, and the XML Data File Layouts have been updated and posted on the OAS CAHPS website. The OAS CAHPS Protocols and Guidelines Manual, Version 10.0 is available on the Survey Materials page. The OAS CAHPS Website User and Data Submission Manual, Version 9.0 and XML Data File Layouts are available on the Data Submission Resources page.

The following is a summary of the main differences between Version 9.0 and Version 10.0 of the OAS CAHPS Protocols and Guidelines Manual.

Throughout: Updated the start date for monthly sampling. Data collection can start after the sample month ends and as soon as the sample is ready (Ch. IV, Ch. V, Ch. VI, Ch. VII, Ch. VIII, IX, Appendix M). Clarified that zero-sampled files should not be submitted when a facility with eligible patients does not send the monthly file to the vendor at all or submits the file after the sampling date has passed. In these cases, the vendor should submit a DNR. Vendors should only submit a zero-sampled file if the facility reports they did not serve any eligible patients in the sample month (Ch. IV, Ch. XIII, Ch. XVII, Appendix L). Added a new protocol for folding letters and questionnaires. When folding a 2-sided document that includes English on one side and a translation on the other, the patients preferred language must be visible first. If the preferred language is unknown, English should be visible (Ch. V, Ch. VII, Ch. VIII, Ch. IX).

Chapter II: Updated facility-level eligibility for HOPDs and ASCs in U.S. Territories. HOPDs in U.S. Territories are all exempt from participation, there are no exceptions. ASCs located in U.S. Territories are not automatically exempt from participation and should reach out to the Outpatient Program Support Team to confirm eligibility requirements and clarify their participation status in the Outpatient Quality Reporting Program. ASCs that are eligible to participate in the Outpatient Quality Reporting Program would be expected to participate in OAS CAHPS. Added a new facility-level exclusion for HOPDs, hospitals that are part of the Indian Health Service.

Chapter III: Added the recommendation that facilities and vendors avoid lengthy or sensitive questions (e.g., Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity [SOGI] questions) because they could reduce response rates.

Chapters IV, VI, and IX: Included guidance on what to do if a facility provides two telephone numbers for a sample patient. Prior to sampling, the vendor should work with the facility to determine the primary number. If the facility is not sure which is the primary number, the vendor should use the first number listed. If the first number is found to be not working or not accurate the vendor can switch to the secondary number with call attempts starting over with the secondary number.

Chapters VIII and IX: Clarified that for the web with mail follow-up mode, the individual web survey must remain open after the mail questionnaire has been sent and should close if a survey is final coded for the mail mode. For the web with telephone follow-up mode, the individual web survey must remain open after CATI follow-up begins and should close if a survey is final coded in CATI.

Chapter XI: Added guidance on when to code cases as 350 (No Response after Maximum Attempts) or 320 (Refusal) when a web survey is submitted blank in the web with mail follow-up mode and web with telephone follow-up mode.

Chapter XVI: Updated public reporting table. Clarified which CMS websites HOPD and ASC data is reported on and what data is reported on the Care Compare and PDC websites. Explained requirements that need to be met before a facility's data can be publicly reported and that footnotes are applied when a facility has fewer than the expected number of completed surveys or a shorter time period than expected. Updated text to clarify that Composite 3 is not being publicly reported for voluntary data.

Appendix J and K: Added a new "Email Status" variable to the Standard and DSRS XML layout files to indicate whether a valid patient email address was provided. Provided additional details about this new variable in Chapter XIII.

Appendix M: Added requirement that if vendors are using a commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) software for their web platform they must document how the COTS is tailored for OAS CAHPS, describe the development and testing processes used before data collection begins, and document all quality control checks that are being implementing in their Quality Assurance Plan (QAP).

Appendix P: Added CPT codes 20560, 20561, 19082, 19084, and 19086 to the list of excluded CPT codes.

Appendix R: Replaced the Participation Exemption Request (PER) Worksheet for the Annual Payment Update for Calendar Year 2027 with the PER for Calendar Year 2028.

If you have questions, you can contact the OAS CAHPS Survey Coordination Team via e-mail at oascahps@rti.org or call 1-866-590-7468.

OAS CAHPS Preview Reports Available for Quarter 1, 2024 through Quarter 4, 2024
Public ReportingPosted October 15, 2025

The purpose of this announcement is to alert ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) that Preview Reports reflecting results from the Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery CAHPS (OAS CAHPS) Survey for January 2024 through December 2024 (Q1, 2024 - Q4, 2024) are now available on the OAS CAHPS website.

NOTE: Starting with this refresh, preview reports on the OAS CAHPS website are only for ASCs. HOPD preview reports are now posted on the Hospital Quality Reporting (HQR) system (https://hqr.cms.gov/).

The following are some frequently asked questions and answers about the Preview Reports. More information about the OAS CAHPS Survey Preview Reports can be found in the "Understanding the Preview Reports" link under the For Facilities menu tab on the OAS CAHPS website.

Who has access to a facility's Preview Report?
ASCs participating in the OAS CAHPS Survey have access to their own reports. The Preview Report is not available to OAS CAHPS Survey vendors or to anyone other than the facility staff registered through the https://oascahps.org website. If facility staff want to share the Preview Report with their OAS CAHPS Survey vendor or with anyone else, they can export the results to a Microsoft Excel File and distribute it.

How does a facility user access its Preview Report?
The Preview Reports are posted on the secured (private) link on https://oascahps.org/. To access a facility's report, an authorized user must first log into the OAS CAHPS website with their registered username and password. Then, select the "Survey Preview Report" link under the "For Facilities" menu tab. All of the user's registered CMS Certification Numbers (CCNs) are displayed on the Preview Report webpage for review.

What results are shown in the Preview Reports?
For each CCN, the Preview Report shows the results for each variable and measure shown below:
1. The number of patients who were sampled; the number of completed surveys; and the response rate percentage during the reporting period;
2. The percentage of patients who rated the overall care they received at the ASC a "9" or "10" on a scale of 0 (worst care possible) to 10 (best care possible);
3. The percentage of patients who reported YES, they would definitely recommend the ASC to friends and family;
4. The percentage of patients who reported that the ASC staff gave care in a professional way and the facility was clean;
5. The percentage of patients who reported that the ASC staff definitely communicated with them about what to expect during and after the procedure; and
6. The percentage of patients who reported that the ASC staff definitely gave them information about what to do if they had pain, nausea or vomiting, bleeding, or possible signs of infection as a result of the procedure or the anesthesia, if any of these outcomes were experienced. NOTE: While CMS reviews the data, Composite 3 will not be publicly reported on CMS' website for voluntary data. At this time, this composite score is only available directly to each facility through the Preview Report.
More information about the OAS CAHPS Survey measures in the Preview Reports can be found in Chapter XVI of the OAS CAHPS Survey Protocols and Guidelines Manual available under the Survey Materials menu tab on the OAS CAHPS website.

Which sample months are included in the Preview Report results?
The results included in the current Preview Report are based on OAS CAHPS Survey response data from patients who had an outpatient surgery or procedure January 2024 through December 2024. The future anticipated public reporting periods are provided in Table 16.2 of the OAS CAHPS Survey Protocols and Guidelines Manual.

My facility has a footnote in the Preview Report and no ratings are displayed. Why?
Facilities must have 25 completed surveys in the reporting period for OAS CAHPS results to be publicly reported. Facilities with fewer than the expected number of completed surveys (200 for ASCs) or a shorter time period than expected (12 months) may display a footnote to indicate possible lower precision of the results that are publicly reported.

Please contact the OAS CAHPS Survey Coordination Team via e-mail at oascahps@rti.org or call toll-free (866) 590-7468, if you have any questions.

Process to Suppress OAS CAHPS Survey Data from Public Reporting for January 2026 Refresh
Public ReportingPosted October 15, 2025

During voluntary implementation, CMS allows participating ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) to have their data suppressed, that is, not displayed on data.CMS.gov/provider-data.

The next refresh of OAS CAHPS Survey data (scheduled for January 2026) includes data from Quarter 2, 2024 - Quarter 1, 2025.

NOTE: The January 2026 refresh includes data for a full year that participation was linked to reimbursement (not voluntary) for HOPDs. HOPDs can no longer choose to have their data suppressed, that is, not displayed on data.CMS.gov/provider-data, as there is no longer data linked to voluntary implementation for HOPDs. ASCs will continue to have the ability to choose to suppress data as long as any voluntary data are being reported, which will go through the July 2026 refresh.

For the January 2026 refresh, vendors must notify the OAS CAHPS Survey Coordination Team (via email at oascahps@rti.org) by November 14, 2025, of any ASC CCNs that choose to exclude their data from public reporting. Please note that the deadline for suppression is earlier than the date by which the Preview Reports are posted on oascahps.org.

The e-mail message to the Coordination Team for suppression requests should include the ASC's name and CMS Certification Number (CCN).

Please contact the OAS CAHPS Survey Coordination Team via e-mail at oascahps@rti.org or call toll-free (866) 590-7468, if you have any questions.

Calendar Year (CY) 2025, Quarter 2 Data Submission Deadline Reminder – October 8, 2025
Data SubmissionPosted October 1, 2025

The data submission deadline for submitting Quarter 2 of calendar year 2025 data (CY25, Q2) to the OAS CAHPS Data Center is Wednesday, October 8, 2025. We thank those OAS CAHPS Survey vendors who have already begun submitting CY25, Q2 data for their client facilities. If you have not submitted any data for Quarter 2, we encourage you to begin submitting your files as soon as possible.

As we approach the next data submission deadline, please note the important points provided below.

Check your Vendor Authorization Report to make sure that all client facilities have authorized your organization to submit data on their behalf.
CMS will not accept any data files for the April, May, and/or June2025 sample months after 11:59 PM Pacific Time on October 8, 2025.
Survey vendors should start submitting their data files as soon as possible to allow adequate time to re-submit data, if needed. You may submit files as many times as needed as long as the final file submission is successfully uploaded by the deadline.
Each time a data file for an HOPD or ASC is submitted, it overwrites any previously submitted data for that same facility for that survey period.
You must still submit an XML data file for an HOPD or ASC facility even if the corresponding monthly patient information file does not have any patients eligible to be sampled.
After each file upload, you will receive an email confirmation within several minutes notifying you whether the upload was successful.
All submitted files will go through validation checks. After the validation check is conducted, you will receive a second e-mail confirmation message notifying you whether your file has been accepted or rejected. The confirmation e-mail message will contain a hyperlink to a Data Submission Report, which shows details of the validation check and any file errors that were identified.
Survey vendors can access the Data Submission Reports on the project website by selecting "History" through the "Data Submission Reports" link in the Data Submission menu.
If you do not receive an e-mail message confirming that your file was successfully uploaded, an e-mail message providing the results of the validation checks, or you cannot view the Data Submission Reports on files that you have submitted, please contact the OAS CAHPS Data Center at oascahps@rti.org.

For additional information about data file preparation and data submission processes, please review Chapter XIII of the OAS CAHPS Survey Protocols and Guidelines Manual available under the Survey Materials tab on the OAS CAHPS website. Please contact the OAS CAHPS Survey Coordination Team via e-mail at oascahps@rti.org or call toll-free (866) 590-7468 if you have any questions or trouble submitting data files.

Calendar Year (CY) 2025, Quarter 2 Data Submission Deadline Reminder – October 8, 2024
Data SubmissionPosted September 24, 2025

As we approach the next data submission deadline, please note the important points provided below.

Check your Vendor Authorization Report to make sure that all client facilities have authorized your organization to submit data on their behalf.
CMS will not accept any data files for the April, May, and/or June 2025 sample months after 11:59 PM Pacific Time on October 8, 2025.
Survey vendors should start submitting their data files as soon as possible to allow adequate time to re-submit data, if needed. You may submit files as many times as needed as long as the final file submission is successfully uploaded by the deadline.
Each time a data file for an HOPD or ASC is submitted, it overwrites any previously submitted data for that same facility for that survey period.
You must still submit an XML data file for an HOPD or ASC facility even if the corresponding monthly patient information file does not have any patients eligible to be sampled.
After each file upload, you will receive an email confirmation within several minutes notifying you whether the upload was successful.
All submitted files will go through validation checks. After the validation check is conducted, you will receive a second e-mail confirmation message notifying you whether your file has been accepted or rejected. The confirmation e-mail message will contain a hyperlink to a Data Submission Report, which shows details of the validation check and any file errors that were identified.
Survey vendors can access the Data Submission Reports on the project website by selecting "History" through the "Data Submission Reports" link in the Data Submission menu.
If you do not receive an e-mail message confirming that your file was successfully uploaded, an e-mail message providing the results of the validation checks, or you cannot view the Data Submission Reports on files that you have submitted, please contact the OAS CAHPS Data Center at oascahps@rti.org.

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