SPH Analytics, a leader in action analytics, announced today their approval as a CAHPS Hospice Survey vendor by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. SPH Analytics (SPHA) is one of fewer than 30 companies approved to perform the CAHPS Hospice Survey.

The Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) Hospice Survey measures and assesses the experiences that patients and their caregivers have with hospice care. With more than one million Americans receiving hospice care annually, the survey supports the national priorities for improving care by involving patients and families in care and promoting effective communication and coordination.

Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) requires Medicare-certified hospices to contract with a CMS-approved CAHPS Hospice Survey Vendor to administer this survey in order to receive their full Annual Payment Update (APU).

The 47-question survey is administered to the primary informal caregivers of deceased hospice patients. The survey may be conducted by mail only, telephone only, or a mixed mode (mail with follow up phone outreach) methodology. Survey topics include starting hospice care, help for the patient’s symptoms, communication with the hospice team, caregiver’s own experiences with hospice care services, an overall rating of hospice care, and a question about willingness to recommend the hospice.

Al Vega, CEO of SPH Analytics, stated, “The CAHPS Hospice Survey is a valuable tool for improving care and coordination for hospice patients and their families. We are pleased to be awarded CMS approval to administer this survey as part of our ongoing commitment to serve healthcare organizations dedicated to improving quality and patient care.”

SPH Analytics is currently a CMS-approved survey vendor for the CAHPS for ACOs, CAHPS for PQRS, Hospital CAHPS, ICH CAHPS, Medicare CAHPS, Medicare HOS, and QHP Enrollee Surveys. The company is also an NCQA-certified vendor for the Commercial and Medicaid CAHPS and the CAHPS PCMH Surveys. The CAHPS Hospice Survey is an important addition to SPH Analytics’ regulatory survey portfolio.

CAHPS® is a registered trademark of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).