Announcements

Back

Announcements

Calendar Year (CY) 2022, Quarter 4 Data Submission Deadline Reminder – April 12, 2023
Data SubmissionPosted March 15, 2023

The data submission deadline for submitting Quarter 4 of calendar year 2022 data (CY22, Q4) to the OAS CAHPS Data Center is Wednesday, April 12, 2023. We thank those OAS CAHPS Survey vendors who have already begun submitting CY22, Q4 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 October, November and/or December 2022 sample months after 8:00 PM Eastern Time on April 12, 2023.
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.

Protocol Revision | More Than 10% Patient Records with Missing Procedural Codes
Survey Specifications and GuidelinesPosted January 31, 2023

In preparation for linking participation in the OAS CAHPS Survey to reimbursement, CMS has revised the requirements for when the percentage of patient records (in a monthly patient file) with missing procedural codes is more than 10%. When this occurs, vendors must do the following starting with the January 2023 sample month:

Proceed with sampling;
Field the OAS CAHPS Survey; and
Submit a Discrepancy Notification Report (DNR).

For the DNR submission documenting more than 10% missing codes, vendors must submit an online DNR and an accompanying Excel file (using the template available through the online DNR form). In the "Missing Procedural Codes" tab of the DNR Excel file, include the following:

The percentage of patient records with missing procedural codes at the time of sampling and at the time of data submission,
The number of affected patient records at the time of sampling and at the time of data submission, and
The steps taken to get updated information and confirm eligibility.

Documentation of these changes have been incorporated into the OAS CAHPS Survey Protocols and Guidelines Manual, Version 7.0, Introduction to the OAS CAHPS Survey Training slides (from the fall 2022), and the online DNR form. Below highlights the changes made to each of these items:

OAS CAHPS Survey Protocols and Guidelines Manual, Version 7.0
- Chapter IV (revised bottom box of flowchart graphic on page 46, and revised protocols regarding more than 10% missing codes on pages 48 and 49).
- Chapter XVII (revised example instance when DNR is needed regarding more than 10% missing codes on pages 279 and added new Discrepancy Reason to Table 17.1 on page 280).
- Appendix O (updated to reflect changes made to online DNR form noted below).
Introductory Training slides
- Sampling module - slides 79, 80 and 81.
- Exceptions Request and Discrepancy Notification Reports module - slides 446, 447, and 449.
DNR form
- Added "Missing Procedural Codes" to Discrepancy Reason dropdown list.
- Added checkbox vendors use to indicate submitting an accompanying Excel spreadsheet.
- Added DNR Excel spreadsheet template that is required to be submitted if "Missing Procedural Codes" Reason is selected.

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.

RTI International will be closed January 16, 2023
Other AnnouncementsPosted January 11, 2023

RTI International will be closed on Monday, January 16, 2023 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The OAS CAHPS Survey Coordination Team will respond to email and telephone inquiries that are received on that day 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.

Final Calendar Year (CY) 2022, Quarter 3 Data Submission Deadline Reminder – January 11, 2023
Data SubmissionPosted January 4, 2023

This announcement serves as a final reminder that the data submission deadline for submitting Quarter 3 of calendar year 2022 data (CY22, Q3) to the OAS CAHPS Data Center is Wednesday, January 11, 2023. We thank those OAS CAHPS Survey vendors who have already begun submitting CY22, Q3 data for their client facilities. If you have not submitted any data for Quarter 3, 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.

Survey vendors should begin early 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.
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 July, August and/or September 2022 sample months after 8:00 PM Eastern Time on January 11, 2023.
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 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.

Calendar Year (CY) 2022, Quarter 3 Data Submission Deadline Reminder – January 11, 2023
Data SubmissionPosted December 28, 2022

The data submission deadline for submitting Quarter 3 of calendar year 2022 data (CY22, Q3) to the OAS CAHPS Data Center is Wednesday, January 11, 2023. We thank those OAS CAHPS Survey vendors who have already begun submitting CY22, Q3 data for their client facilities. If you have not submitted any data for Quarter 3, 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.

Survey vendors should begin early 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.
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 July, August and/or September 2022 sample months after 8:00 PM Eastern Time on January 11, 2023.
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 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.

RTI International will be closed December 26, 2022 and January 2, 2023
Other AnnouncementsPosted December 21, 2022

RTI International will be closed on December 26, 2022 in observance of the Christmas holiday and January 2, 2023 in observance of the New Year's Day 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.

Calendar Year (CY) 2022, Quarter 3 Data Submission Deadline Reminder – January 11, 2023
Data SubmissionPosted December 14, 2022

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

Survey vendors should begin early 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.
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 July, August and/or September 2022 sample months after 8:00 PM Eastern Time on January 11, 2023.
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 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.

Notice of Publication of the Final Rule for Calendar Year 2023
Final/Proposed RulesPosted November 23, 2022

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 23, 2022. The Final Rule is available here.

As stated in the Rule, CMS confirms their plans to continue voluntary implementation of the OAS CAHPS Survey through CY 2023 for HOPDs and CY 2024 for ASCs. Therefore, participation in the OAS CAHPS Survey will be linked to reimbursement beginning with CY 2024 for HOPDs and CY 2025 ASCs.

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

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 24 and 25, 2022
Other AnnouncementsPosted November 21, 2022

RTI International will be closed on November 24 and 25, 2022 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.

CMS Notice of the Final Rule Making for Calendar Year 2023
Information for HOPDs / ASCsPosted November 4, 2022

The Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems and Quality Reporting Programs calendar year (CY) 2023 Final Rule notification has been posted on CMS' website. The notification provides a preview of what will be posted in the Federal Register on November 23, 2022. The notice is available here.

In this Final Rule, CMS confirms their plans to continue voluntary participation in the OAS CAHPS Survey (OP-37/ASC-15 measure) through CY 2023 for HOPDs and CY 2024 for ASCs. Therefore, participation in the OAS CAHPS Survey will be linked to reimbursement beginning with CY 2024 for HOPDs and CY 2025 for ASCs.

The next update (CY 2024 Rule) will be proposed in July and finalized in November 2023. The CY 2024 Rule will reflect any planned changes that would impact the 2024 data collection period (CY 2026 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.

Older