Why Choose AxxessCAHPS?
AxxessCAHPS improves patient engagement, provides deeper business insights to increase revenue and drives sustained improvements and growth.
The Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery (OAS) Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Survey measures patients' experiences with a surgery or procedure from Medicare-certified hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs).
Axxess is a CMS-approved OAS CAHPS vendor, approved to conduct surveys via phone, mail and mixed-mode (mail + phone).
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FAQ Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery CAHPS
What is the definition of OAS CAHPS-eligible facility?
HOPD: A unit of a hospital whose primary focus is to perform outpatient surgeries and procedures, is Medicare-certified, has a CMS Certification Number (CCN), and bills CMS under the Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS).
ASC: A freestanding medical facility that performs outpatient surgeries and procedures, is Medicare-certified, has a CCN, and meets the general conditions and requirements in accordance with 42 CFR 416 subpart B.
Who is required to participate?
ASCs and HOPDs are encouraged to voluntarily participate in 2017. Beginning January 1, 2018 mandatory participation will be required for all ASCs and HOPDs who have performed at least 60 surgeries or procedures in 2017.
Is there a penalty for not participating in 2018 when it becomes mandatory?
Yes there is a penalty. ASCs and HOPDs that exceed the minimum 60 surgery/procedures in calendar year 2017, and neglect to participate in OAS CAHPS in 2018 will see a 2% cut in all reimbursements in 2020, and in subsequent years for which they are out of compliance.
Is it possible to be exempt from the OAS CAHPS survey in 2018?
The only ASCs and HOPDs exempt in 2018 are those that have performed less than 60 surgeries or procedures in 2017
What is the purpose of the OAS CAHPS survey?
The goals for designing the survey include producing a standardized instrument for generating data which:
- can be used by HOPDs and ASCs for quality improvement initiatives
- allows objective and meaningful comparisons between HOPDs and free-standing ASCs
- enhances the ability of consumers to gain more insights into choices between HOPDs or ASCs from the public reporting of the results.
What types of questions are contained in the OAS CAHPS survey?
The survey contains 37 questions that allow patients to rate their service on the topics of communication and care provided by health care providers and office staff; preparation for the surgery or procedure, and preparations for discharge and recovery. All these topics are important to patients when choosing an outpatient or ambulatory surgery provider.
Are only Medicare and Medicaid patients eligible for the OAS CAHPS survey?
Patients that are at least 18 years old with at least one outpatient surgery/procedure (including overnight observations patients not admitted), received in a Medicare certified HOPD or ASC. The patients must have undergone a surgery/procedure on a list of approved CMS CPT and G codes in the OAS CAHPS Protocols and Guidelines Manual. All these patients qualify regardless of their payor source.
Survey Eligible CPT and G codes
CPT: Code in the 10021– 69990 range without accompanying modifier of 73 or 74 (discontinued procedure).
G Codes: Procedures that are HCPCS Screening Codes G0104, G0105, G0121, or G0260
How are patients contacted for the survey?
Patients are contacted utilizing 3 approved methods - mail-only, telephone-only, and mixed mode (mail survey followed by telephone)
What type of data will be available to facilities?
Survey vendors typically provide various reports of patient surveys to facilities. The data submitted by approved vendors will be made available to facilities in a preview report, 3 months prior to public reporting on the CMS website. Participating facilities will also need to have a minimum of 4 consecutive quarters worth of data to have their results reported on the CMS Medicare compare websites and compared against state and national averages.
Is it possible to view the OAS CAHPS survey?
The survey is accessible for download in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean.
Are there a minimum number of patients that must be surveyed to be compliant?
CMS set an annual target of 300 completed surveys for each HOPD or ASC, and approved survey vendors are required to calculate a sampling rate to reach that target, which is relatively easy for larger organizations. However organizations with a smaller number of surgeries/procedures are not penalized for not reaching the 300 survey target. Facilities are encouraged to exceed this target to gain additional insights and engagement with patients.
Is it possible for an OAS facility to simply administer their own surveys for the mandatory OAS CAHPS survey?
No, an OAS facility cannot administer the OAS CAHPS survey, and submit the results to CMS. The OAS CY 2017 Final Rules clearly outline that independent CMS approved vendors are the only ones that can administer surveys on behalf of the OAS facility and submit to CMS. Facilities are able to add custom questions to the standardized instrument, although there may be an associated cost from approved CAHPS vendors.
Is it possible for an OAS facility to become an approved OAS CAHPS vendor?
No, an OAS facility is unable to become approved by CMS as an OAS CAHPS vendor. The business requirements for becoming an approved OAS CAHPS vendor preclude an organization that owns, operates or provides staffing for an HOPD or ASC from applying. Survey vendors are also required to prove they are experienced in conducting surveys in the approved modes - mail-only, telephone-only, and mixed-mode (mail followed by telephone) and a number of other requirements.
How does a HOPD/ASC facility identify an approved OAS CAHPS to contract with for services?
A facility can find the most updated list of approved OAS CAHPS vendors on the official OAS CAHPS website. There are a number of steps for an HOPD/ASC to perform on the official OAS CAHPS website to officially select their approved vendor.
Why participate in the OAS CAHPS survey starting 2017, which is not mandatory?
Participating early will allow the OAS to learn more about administering the survey, and get a jump start on using the generated results to improve patient engagement efforts prior to when it becomes mandatory in 2018.
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