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Calendar Year (CY) 2024, Quarter 2 Data Submission Deadline Reminder – October 9, 2024
Data SubmissionPosted October 2, 2024

The data submission deadline for submitting Quarter 2 of calendar year 2024 data (CY24, Q2) to the OAS CAHPS Data Center is Wednesday, October 9, 2024. We thank those OAS CAHPS Survey vendors who have already begun submitting CY24, 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 June 2024 sample months after 8:00 PM Eastern Time on October 9, 2024.
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) 2024, Quarter 2 Data Submission Deadline Reminder – October 9, 2024
Data SubmissionPosted September 25, 2024

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 2024 sample months after 8:00 PM Eastern Time on October 9, 2024.
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.

Calendar Year (CY) 2024, Quarter 2 Data Submission Deadline Reminder – October 9, 2024
Data SubmissionPosted September 11, 2024

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 2024 sample months after 8:00 PM Eastern Time on October 9, 2024.
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.

Registration Now Open for the OAS CAHPS Survey Vendor Update Webinar Training Session
TrainingPosted September 3, 2024

Registration is now open for the Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery CAHPS (OAS CAHPS) Survey Vendor Update Webinar Training session, which will take place on November 13, 2024, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM Eastern Time.

To register, please complete the Training Registration Form.

Survey vendors who wish to retain their status as approved OAS CAHPS Survey vendors are required to have their designated 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.

There are no restrictions on the number of people attending or the number of lines required for each vendor.

Approved vendors that wish to apply for approval to administer one or both web mixed modes and have not done so previously will also need to register for the Introduction to the OAS CAHPS Survey self-paced training, review the necessary Survey Administration modules for the web mode(s), and complete (and pass) an online web certification, which will be available after the Update Training.

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

Registration Now Open for the Introduction to the OAS CAHPS Survey Self-Paced Training
TrainingPosted September 3, 2024

Registration is now open for the 2024 Introduction to the Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery CAHPS (OAS CAHPS) Survey self-paced training. Please note that training materials will be available on this website beginning in early November 2024.

To register, please complete the Training Registration Form.

Survey vendors interested in becoming an approved OAS CAHPS Survey vendor will be required to do the following:

Meet a set of minimum business requirements located here: Minimum Business Requirements (oascahps.org)
Designate a staff member to be the OAS CAHPS Project Director who will also serve as the vendor's OAS CAHPS Survey Administrator.
The vendor's designated OAS CAHPS Survey Administrator must complete the online Vendor Registration Form (available under the "For Vendors" menu) to obtain login credentials to the OAS CAHPS website.
After submitting the Vendor Registration Form, the OAS CAHPS Survey Administrator can complete and submit the Vendor Application available via the Vendor Dashboard.
The OAS CAHPS Survey Administrator will be required to submit a notarized must OAS CAHPS Survey Administrator Consent Form to the OAS CAHPS Survey Coordination Team. Details on how to submit this form will be communicated after the Vendor Application is received.
The vendor's designated OAS CAHPS Project Director must register for and complete the self-paced Introduction to OAS CAHPS Survey Training.
The designated OAS CAHPS Project Director must also successfully complete and pass a training certification. Details on how to access this certification will be communicated after the Vendor Application is received.
Agree to implement the OAS CAHPS Survey using standardized protocols and procedures described in the OAS CAHPS Survey Protocols and Guidelines Manual available under the "Survey Materials" tab on the OAS CAHPS website.
If interim approval is granted:
- Newly approved vendors must attend all OAS CAHPS Update Training sessions. We strongly encourage all key OAS CAHPS staff, including sampling and data managers and key subcontractors, to attend the OAS CAHPS Survey trainings.
- Must develop and submit a Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) within 6 weeks after the vendor's first quarterly OAS CAHPS Survey data submission.
- Participate and cooperate in all oversight activities conducted by the OAS CAHPS Survey Coordination Team, including but not limited to conference calls and site visits, as deemed necessary.

More information about the survey and the requirements for becoming an approved OAS CAHPS Survey vendor can be found in Chapter III of the OAS CAHPS Survey Protocols and Guidelines Manual, Version 8.1, available under the "Survey Materials" menu tab on this website.

Staff from hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, health care organizations, and other organizations interested in the implementation of the OAS CAHPS Survey may review this training as well but are not required to do so.

Survey vendors who have already been approved to conduct the OAS CAHPS Survey are not required to review the Introductory Training. However, approved survey vendors are required to attend the OAS CAHPS Survey Update Training session, which will be held via webinar on Wednesday, November 13, 2024.

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

RTI International will be closed September 2, 2024
Other AnnouncementsPosted August 29, 2024

RTI International will be closed on September 2, 2024, in observance of Labor Day. 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.

Request for Interest in Becoming an Approved OAS CAHPS Survey Vendor
TrainingPosted August 12, 2024

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 September 1, 2024.***

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 and training those survey vendors to become 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 September 1, 2024. 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 this website,
register for and complete the self-paced Introduction to the OAS CAHPS Survey Training,
complete and pass an online certification 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 8.1 that is available under the "Survey Materials" menu on this website.

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.

2024 OAS CAHPS Survey Update Webinar Training Session
TrainingPosted August 12, 2024

The next Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery CAHPS (OAS CAHPS) Survey Vendor Update Webinar Training session will take place on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. 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 must 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.

2024 Introduction to the OAS CAHPS Survey Training: Self-Paced Format
TrainingPosted August 12, 2024

The 2024 Introduction to the Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery CAHPS (OAS CAHPS) Survey Training will be offered in a self-paced format beginning in early November 2024.

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 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.
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 will be required to attend the live OAS CAHPS Survey Vendor Update Webinar Training on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 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.

Planned Expansion of Patient-level Eligibility Criteria for Procedural Codes
Survey Specifications and GuidelinesPosted July 29, 2024

After reviewing the full list of procedures eligible for reimbursement in the Prospective Payment System for ASCs, CMS is expanding the patient-level eligibility criteria for the OAS CAHPS Survey to include specific procedural codes in the Codes for Medicine range between 92920 and 93986. The specific eligible codes or groups of codes are listed below.

92920 and 92921
92928 and 92929
92978
93451 through 93462
93566 through 93572
93985 and 93986

Any references to the eligible range of CPT codes will be updated in the next version of the OAS CAHPS Protocols & Guidelines Manual, Version 9.0. Vendors should plan to begin including these codes starting in January 2025.

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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