Patient Surveys: Quality Care All Year

Throughout the year, CMS surveys patients on their experience and health status so that providers, plans, and patients can hear about quality of care from the patients themselves. HealthTeam Advantage pays close attention to these key measures and uses them to improve insights and quality of care. You are critical partners in delivering high-quality care and experiences year-round!  

CAHPS: How well are providers doing, from the patient’s point of view?

CMS Medicare CAHPS® (Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) captures patient experience of both providers and health plans. The CAHPS allows us to assess key quality of care issues, such as:  

• How well our providers communicate 
• How easy it is for patients to get to care  
• How well care is coordinated  
• Receipt of influenza and pneumonia vaccines 

Better patient experience leads to better adherence to care plans, engagement with providers, and health outcomes. 

HOS: How is patient quality of life, from their perspective?

The CMS Health Outcomes Survey (HOS) is designed to measure self-reported health outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries on physical and mental health over time. Recent updates to the HOS program include: 

• Increased importance in Star Ratings  
• Stronger focus on social determinants of health 
• Expanded demographic data collection 
• Enhanced digital survey options to improve response rates  

These changes aim to improve more comprehensive insights into patient well-being.  

Making an Impact: What You Can Do as a Provider

With HOS surveys fielding July–November and CAHPS fielding February–June, there is always patient self-reported data being collected from a random sample of patients. Patients are asked to review all their experiences from the previous 6 months.  

We are asking you, as our partners, to:  

• Understand that these surveys are important to HealthTeam Advantage  
• Engage with our patients and encourage open communication and feedback  
• Work with us as we share data and launch initiatives to improve our members’ experiences and health 

Please be advised that these surveys could be measuring any interaction you have with your patients. Thank you for treating every touchpoint with the same high quality!