In a previous Monday Minute, we reviewed significant changes to the CAHPS Hospice Survey. In that Minute, we mentioned that we would be sharing additional details as we got closer to the implementation phase. Today, we are providing the latest updates on the survey.
The new CAHPS Hospice Survey will begin on April 1, 2025, applying to all decedents from that date forward. To begin a recap of the changes, Questions 1 and 2 have only minor updates, with the word “person” being replaced by “patient.” Question 5 is the only question on the entire survey that remains completely unchanged in both content and numbering—it is exactly as it was before.
Questions 3, 15, 16, 21-22, and 24-27 have only one change: the survey now uses the word “they” instead of words like “he” or “she,” “him” or “her,” and, in some cases, “your family member.” This update simply replaces those terms with “they”.
Some questions remain the same in content but have been renumbered. The changes are as follows:
- Question 14 is now 15
- Question 31 is now 26
- Question 35 is now 25
- Question 37 is now 28
- Question 38 is now 29
- Questions 40-43 are now 31-34
- Questions 44-47 are now 36-39
The most important update for today is the addition of four new questions to the survey:
- Question 12: Did the hospice team provide care that respected your family member’s wishes?
- Question 13: Did the hospice team make an effort to listen to the things that mattered most to you or your family member?
- Question 24: Hospice teams may teach you how to care for family members who need pain medicine, have trouble breathing, are restless or agitated, or have other care needs. Did the hospice team teach you how to care for your family member?
- Question 35: How often was your family member treated unfairly by the hospice team because of their race and ethnicity?
In addition to these new questions, several others have been completely removed from the survey.
The figure below is an example pre-notification letter included in the manual. This letter is specifically required to be sent seven days before the survey is issued.
A few common questions have come up:
- If we use the email or new web version of the survey, can we also send it by mail?
Answer: Yes. You can send the survey by email up to twice and by mail up to twice, as long as everything is completed within the 49-day window from when the initial information was sent.
- Can we choose mail-only?
Yes. If you prefer, you can send the survey exclusively by mail.
- What about phone calls?
If you choose to conduct surveys by phone, it must be done exclusively by phone, and there are specific restrictions that apply.
In the figure below, examples of statements that comply with CAHPS Hospice Survey protocols are shown. It’s important to ensure that your staff is properly educated on the types of conversations they can have with patients and caregivers about the survey. Staff members should not give the survey questions themselves, but there are specific guidelines on what can be discussed. The figure below includes approved questions and comments that can be shared with the family member or caregiver who may be completing the survey.
In the “Data Reporting Update” figure below, it shares the outcome measures that will be reported and how they will be updated. Currently, seven measures will be reflected in the Care Compare refresh through November 2027. However, starting with the February 2028 refresh, all nine measures from the Hospice CAHPS survey will be included.
Two key measures—the Care Preferences Measure and the Getting Hospice Care Training Measure—will undergo significant revisions before being introduced. These updated measures will not be reported until the February 2028 refresh, when all nine measures will be reflected based on the new HHCAHPS data.
If you have any further questions about the CAHPS Hospice survey or need additional training for your staff, please feel free to reach out to us.
Subscribe now to have your weekly Monday Minute sent directly to your inbox. Click here to Subscribe!