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Request for Interest in Becoming an Approved OAS CAHPS Survey Vendor
TrainingPosted August 13, 2025

Important Information for Survey Organizations Interested in Becoming an Approved OAS CAHPS Survey Vendor

***Any survey organization, not already a CMS-approved survey vendor for OAS CAHPS and interested in applying to become an approved OAS CAHPS Survey vendor must notify the OAS CAHPS Survey Coordination Team of their interest via email at oascahps@rti.org no later than August 29, 2025.***

The OAS CAHPS Survey Coordination Team is preparing for the next vendor application review cycle. This will include accepting and processing applications from survey organizations interested in becoming a CMS-approved OAS CAHPS Survey vendor. We request that any interested survey organizations notify us of their intent to submit an application via email by August 29, 2025. To become a CMS-approved OAS CAHPS Survey vendor, survey organizations must, at a minimum:

complete and submit the online OAS CAHPS Vendor Application form,
meet the minimum business requirements posted under the “For Vendors” menu tab on the OAS CAHPS website (https://oascahps.org/),
register for and complete the self-paced Introduction to the OAS CAHPS Survey Training,
complete and pass an online certification exam after completing the Introductory Training
attend any subsequent OAS CAHPS Survey Vendor Update Webinar Training sessions, and
ensure that any subcontractors with significant roles and staff who are in receipt of patient identifying data participate in all vendor training sessions. Key subcontractors are defined as a subcontractor that will conduct substantive work to support the implementation of the OAS CAHPS Survey. Substantive work is defined as follows:
- ANY statistical function, including sample selection,
- telephone or web survey data collection (i.e., if an approved vendor is subcontracting data collection activities),
- returned mail and questionnaire receipt,
- processing data for mail, telephone or web, and
- construction or submission of XML data files.

Additional information about survey vendor responsibilities on the OAS CAHPS Survey can be found in Chapter III of the OAS CAHPS Survey Protocols and Guidelines Manual, Version 9.0 that is available under the “Survey Materials” menu on the OAS CAHPS website (https://oascahps.org/).

Please contact the OAS CAHPS Survey Coordination Team via email at oascahps@rti.org or call toll-free (866) 590-7468, if you have any questions about this request for interest.

2025 OAS CAHPS Survey Update Webinar Training Session
TrainingPosted August 13, 2025

The next Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery CAHPS (OAS CAHPS) Survey Vendor Update Webinar Training session will take place on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. The session will be held from 1:00 to 3:00 PM Eastern Standard Time.

Online registration to attend the OAS CAHPS Survey Vendor Update Webinar Training session will be available soon. Please monitor this website for an announcement that registration is open.

Survey vendors who wish to retain their status as approved OAS CAHPS Survey vendors are required to have their OAS CAHPS Project Director attend the entire session. We also strongly encourage all key OAS CAHPS staff, including sampling, data managers and subcontractors, to attend the Update Training. Key subcontractors are defined as a subcontractor that will conduct substantive work to support the implementation of the OAS CAHPS Survey. For purposes of this survey, substantive work is defined as follows:

ANY statistical function, including sample selection,
telephone or web survey data collection (i.e., if an approved vendor is subcontracting data collection activities),
returned mail and questionnaire receipt,
processing data for mail, telephone or web, and
construction or submission of XML data files.

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

2025 Introduction to the OAS CAHPS Survey Training: Self-Paced Format
TrainingPosted August 13, 2025

The 2025 Introduction to the Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery CAHPS (OAS CAHPS) Survey Training will be offered in a self-paced format beginning in early November 2025.

Organizations are required to register for this training online. Registration will be available soon. Please monitor this website for an announcement that registration is open.

The Introduction to the OAS CAHPS Survey Training is intended for the following:

New survey vendor applicants for the OAS CAHPS Survey.
The vendor’s designated OAS CAHPS Project Director must register for and complete the self-paced training and the online certification exam after training. We strongly encourage all key staff, including sampling and data managers and key subcontractors, to complete the Introductory Training. Key subcontractors that will conduct substantive work to support the implementation of the OAS CAHPS Survey should also attend. Substantive work is defined as follows:
- ANY statistical function, including sample selection,
- telephone or web survey data collection (i.e., if an approved vendor is subcontracting data collection activities),
- returned mail and questionnaire receipt,
- processing data for mail, telephone or web, and
- construction or submission of XML data files.

Currently approved OAS CAHPS Survey vendors applying for approval to administer one or both web mixed modes who have not previously completed the web certification exam.
The vendor’s designated OAS CAHPS Project Director must register for the Introduction to the OAS CAHPS Survey self-paced training, review the necessary Survey Administration modules for web modes, and complete an online certification.

Survey vendors already approved as an OAS CAHPS Survey vendor are not required to complete this training; however, their staff are welcome to review the Introductory Training slides, especially those individuals who are new to the OAS CAHPS Survey and new subcontractors with significant roles (as defined above).

Approved vendors are required to attend the live OAS CAHPS Survey Vendor Update Webinar Training on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time).

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

OAS CAHPS Public Reporting Results Refreshed on Provider Data Catalog (Quarter 4, 2023 through Quarter 3, 2024)
Public ReportingPosted August 6, 2025

Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery CAHPS (OAS CAHPS) Survey results based on responses from patients who received an outpatient surgery or procedure between October 2023 and September 2024 are now publicly 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/). OAS CAHPS data are also referenced on Care Compare, which points to the downloadable datasets on the PDC website under “Resources & Information” (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 Preview Reports Available for Quarter 4, 2023 through Quarter 3, 2024
Public ReportingPosted July 17, 2025

The purpose of this announcement is to alert hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) that Preview Reports reflecting results from the Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery CAHPS (OAS CAHPS) Survey for October 2023 through September 2024 (Q4, 2023 – Q3, 2024) are now available on the OAS CAHPS website.

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?
HOPDs and 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 HOPD or 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 HOPD or ASC to friends and family;
4. The percentage of patients who reported that the HOPD or ASC staff gave care in a professional way and the facility was clean;
5. The percentage of patients who reported that the HOPD or 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 HOPD or 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. 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 October 2023 through September 2024. The future anticipated public reporting periods are provided in Table 16.2 of the OAS CAHPS Survey Protocols and Guidelines Manual.

My facility participated in the OAS CAHPS Survey, but there are no results shown. Why?
OAS CAHPS Survey results are publicly reported when an HOPD or ASC has 4 quarters of OAS CAHPS Survey data. An HOPD or ASC must have had survey response data (patients who responded to the survey) in all 4 quarters included in the public reporting period for results to be 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.

Notice of Publication of the Proposed Rule for Calendar Year 2026
Final/Proposed RulesPosted July 17, 2025

The Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems and Quality Reporting Programs CY 2026 Proposed Rule has been published in the Federal Register today, July 17, 2025. The Proposed Rule is available on the OAS CAHPS website at the link provided here.

In this Proposed Rule, CMS announces no changes to requirements for participation in the OAS CAHPS Survey from previous Rules. OAS CAHPS Survey participation will continue to be linked to reimbursement in CY 2026 for HOPDs and ASCs. Confirmation of plans will be published in the CY 2026 Final Rule in November 2025.

The OPPS and ASC Rules are updated annually. The next update (CY 2027 Rule) will be proposed in July or August 2026 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.

Update to Excluded CPT Codes for OAS CAHPS
Survey Specifications and GuidelinesPosted July 16, 2025

CMS has approved the exclusion of two additional CPT codes in the Codes for Musculoskeletal System range between 20100-29999. A brief description of the newly excluded codes is provided below.

20560, Needle insertion without injection into 1 or 2 muscles
20561, Needle insertion without injection into 3 or more muscles

We plan to update Appendix P in the next version of the OAS CAHPS Protocols & Guidelines Manual, Version 10.0 this fall. Approved vendors are advised to update their systems and patient eligibility criteria to exclude these codes.

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 October 2025 Refresh
Public ReportingPosted July 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 October 2025) includes data from Quarter 1, 2024 – Quarter 4, 2024.

NOTE: The October 2025 refresh includes data for a full year that participation was linked to reimbursement (not voluntary) for HOPDs (Quarter 1, 2024 – Quarter 4, 2024). 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.

For the October 2025 refresh, vendors must notify the OAS CAHPS Survey Coordination Team (via email at oascahps@rti.org) by August 15, 2025, of any ambulatory surgery center (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 HOPD’s or ASC’s name and CMS Certification Number (CCN).

Future plans for Public Reporting: 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. Starting with the October 2026 refresh, which will include data from Quarter 1, 2025 – Quarter 4, 2025, ASCs will no longer be able to choose to have their data suppressed as that refresh will include data for the full year that participation was linked to reimbursement (not voluntary) for ASCs.

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 1 Data Submission Deadline Reminder – July 9, 2025
Data SubmissionPosted July 2, 2025

The data submission deadline for submitting Quarter 1 of calendar year 2025 data (CY25, Q1) to the OAS CAHPS Data Center is Wednesday, July 9, 2025. We thank those OAS CAHPS Survey vendors who have already begun submitting CY25, Q1 data for their client facilities. If you have not submitted any data for Quarter 4, 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 January, February, and/or March 2025 sample months after 11:59 PM Pacific Time on July 9, 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.

RTI International will be closed July 4, 2025
Other AnnouncementsPosted July 1, 2025

RTI International will be closed on July 4, 2025, in observance of Independence Day. The OAS CAHPS Survey Coordination Team will respond to email and telephone inquiries that are received on that date 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.

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