CAHPS^® for Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) Survey

Note: 2021 was the last program year for CAHPS for PQRS. PQRS transitioned to the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) under the Quality Payment Program. Please visit the CAHPS for MIPS webpage on CMS.gov for more information.  

About the Survey

The Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Survey for group practices participating in the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) was developed to collect information about patient experience and care within that group practice. The yearly CAHPS for PQRS Survey collects data through two survey mailings and follow-up phone calls to non-respondents to measure the twelve key domains of beneficiaries’ experiences of care. CAHPS asks patients about the interpersonal aspects of health care—aspects for which patients may be the best, if not the only source of information—and areas that patients have identified as being important to them.

For vendors

• Vendor Registration for the 2021 CAHPS for PQRS Survey has closed. The next application period to become a CAHPS for PQRS Survey vendor will be in Spring 2017. For more information, please contact the CAHPS for PQRS Technical Assistance Email at .
• The final list of approved vendors has been posted. 

For Group Practices

• Have questions about your practice’s responsibility for survey administration? Visit our Information for Group Practices page.
• All Group Practices must select a CMS approved CAHPS for PQRS Survey vendor from the approved list. Group practices completed the 2021 CAHPS Survey vendor authorization process by September 20, 2021 . 

More information

• Visit our Physician Quality Reporting System page to learn more about the PQRS program, its requirements and quality measures.
• Learn more about the set of CAHPS surveys and find a link to reports by visiting our CAHPS  page.

In 2021 , survey administration is:

• Required for all group practices of 100 or more eligible providers (EPs) that register for PQRS by June 30, 2021 .
• Optional for group practices of 2-99 EPs, regardless of the reporting option, that register for PQRS by June 30, 2021 . During registration, such groups must indicate whether they are participating in CAHPS for PQRS.

You can find complete information on our Physician Quality Reporting System page.

The CAHPS for PQRS Survey measures twelve key domains of beneficiaries’ experiences of care that we refer to as summary survey measures (SSMs). An SSM is a collection of survey items that assess the same patient experience domain of care.

1. Getting Timely Care, Appointments and Information
2. How Well Providers Communicate
3. Patient’s Rating of Provider
4. Access to Specialists
5. Health Promotion and Education
6. Shared Decision Making
7. Health Status/Functional Status
8. Courteous and Helpful Office Staff
9. Care Coordination
10. Between Visit Communication
11. Helping You to Take Medication as Directed
12. Stewardship of Patient Resources

The survey contains the core CG-CAHPS Survey plus additional items to meet the needs of PQRS. The 2021 survey can be found on the Survey Instruments page.

The survey is administered through a Mixed-Mode data collection protocol:

• CMS pre-notification letter
• Two survey mailings
• Up to six follow-up phone calls to beneficiaries who do not return a survey by mail

 The CAHPS for PQRS Survey can only be administered by a CMS-approved survey vendor.