Appendix A: CAHPS for MIPS Survey Crosswalk

CAHPS for MIPS Summary Survey Measures
2017 (Version 1.0) vs. 2018 (Version 2.0)
NOTE: There may be slight wording changes made to some questions in the 2018 CAHPS for MIPS survey. The final version of the CAHPS for MIPS survey will be
posted to the QPP website or CMS website.
SSM Name

Survey Items in SSM – 2017

Getting Timely Care,
Appointments and
Information

6. In the last 6 months, when you phoned
this provider’s office to get an
appointment for care you needed
right away, how often did you get an
appointment as soon as you needed?
8. In the last 6 months, when you made
an appointment for a check-up or
routine care with this provider, how
often did you get an appointment as
soon as you needed?
10. In the last 6 months, when you phoned
this provider’s office during regular
office hours, how often did you get an
answer to your medical question that
same day?
12. In the last 6 months, when you
phoned this provider’s office after
regular office hours, how often did
you get an answer to your medical
question as soon as you needed?

Yes

15. Wait time includes time spent in the
waiting room and exam room. In the
last 6 months, how often did you see
this provider within 15 minutes of
your appointment time?
16. In the last 6 months, how often
did this provider explain things
in a way that was easy to
understand?

Yes

Item deleted from CAHPS for MIPS
2018 survey

N/A

Yes

11. In the last 6 months, how often
did this provider explain things
in a way that was easy to
understand?

Yes

Getting Timely Care,
Appointments and
Information
Getting Timely Care,
Appointments and
Information
Getting Timely Care,
Appointments and
Information
Getting Timely Care,
Appointments and
Information
How Well Your
Providers
Communicate

Is SSM Used in
2017 Scoring?

Yes

Yes

Yes

Survey Items in SSM – 2018
(Note: underlined text indicates
new language)
6. In the last 6 months, when you
contacted this provider’s office to get
an appointment for care you needed
right away, how often did you get an
appointment as soon as you needed?
8. In the last 6 months, when you made
an appointment for a check-up or
routine care with this provider, how
often did you get an appointment as
soon as you needed?
10. In the last 6 months, when you
contacted this provider’s office
during regular office hours, how often
did you get an answer to your medical
question that same day?
Item deleted from CAHPS for MIPS
2018 survey

Is SSM Used
in 2018
Scoring?
Yes

Reason for Change

AHRQ change from
“phoned” to “contacted”
reflects the various modes of
communication

Yes

No change

Yes

AHRQ change from
“phoned” to “contacted”
reflects the various modes of
communication

N/A

AHRQ change; item does not
add sufficient information to
access measure as few
patients seek answers after
office hours.
AHRQ change; item scale
correlation for this item was
lower than other items in this
access measure.
No change

1

SSM Name

Survey Items in SSM – 2017

Is SSM Used in
2017 Scoring?

Survey Items in SSM – 2018
(Note: underlined text indicates
new language)

Is SSM Used
in 2018
Scoring?
Yes

Reason for Change

How Well Your
Providers
Communicate
How Well Your
Providers
Communicate

17. In the last 6 months, how often did this
provider listen carefully to you?

Yes

12. In the last 6 months, how often did
this provider listen carefully to you?

19. In the last 6 months, how often did this
provider give you easy to understand
information about these health
questions or concerns?

Yes

Item deleted from 2018 CAHPS for
MIPS Survey

N/A

How Well Your
Providers
Communicate

20. In the last 6 months, how often
did this provider seem to know
the important information
about your medical history?
22. In the last 6 months, how often did
this provider show respect for what
you had to say?

Yes

Item moved to care coordination

Yes

Yes

14. In the last 6 months, how often did
this provider show respect for what
you had to say?

Yes

No change

23. In the last 6 months, how often did this
provider spend enough time with you?

Yes

15. In the last 6 months, how often did
this provider spend enough time with
you?

Yes

No change

21. When you visited this provider in the
last 6 months, how often did he or she
have your medical records?
N/A

Yes

Item deleted from 2018 CAHPS for
MIPS Survey

N/A

Yes

Yes

25. In the last 6 months, when this
provider ordered a blood test, x-ray, or
other test for you, how often did
someone from this provider’s office
follow up to give you those results?
53. In the last 6 months, how often did you
and anyone on your health care team
talk about all the prescription
medicines you were taking?

Yes

13. In the last 6 months, how often
did this provider seem to know
the important information
about your medical history?
17. In the last 6 months, when this
provider ordered a blood test, x-ray, or
other test for you, how often did
someone from this provider’s office
follow up to give you those results?

Deleted to reflect AHRQ care
coordination composite added
to core CG-CAHPS.
Revised to reflect AHRQ care
coordination composite added
to core CG-CAHPS.

Yes

No change

30. In the last 6 months, how often
did you and anyone on your
health care team talk about all
the prescription medicines you
were taking?

Yes

No change

How Well Your
Providers
Communicate
How Well Your
Providers
Communicate
Care Coordination
Care Coordination

Care Coordination

Care Coordination

Yes

No change

AHRQ change; revised
communication composite
improves consistency across
CAHPS surveys.
AHRQ change; care
coordination composite added
to core CG-CAHPS.

2

SSM Name

Shared Decision
Making
Shared Decision
Making
Shared Decision
Making

Shared Decision
Making
Shared Decision
Making
Shared Decision
Making
Shared Decision
Making

Shared Decision
Making

Patient’s Rating of
Provider

Survey Items in SSM – 2017

Is SSM Used in
2017 Scoring?

Survey Items in SSM – 2018
(Note: underlined text indicates
new language)

Is SSM Used
in 2018
Scoring?
N/A

Reason for Change

27. Did you and this provider talk about
the reasons you might want to take a
medicine?
28. Did you and this provider talk about
the reasons you might not want to take
a medicine?
29. When you and this provider talked
about starting or stopping a
prescription medicine, did this
provider ask what you thought was
best for you?
36. Did you and this provider talk about
the reasons you might want to have
the surgery or procedure?
37. Did you and this provider talk about
the reasons you might not want to
have the surgery or procedure?
38. When you and this provider talked
about having surgery or a procedure,
did this provider ask what you
thought was best for you?
39. In the last 6 months, did you and this
provider talk about how much of
your personal health information you
wanted shared with your family or
friends?

Yes

Item deleted from 2018 CAHPS for
MIPS Survey

Yes

Item deleted from 2018 CAHPS for
MIPS Survey

N/A

Deleted to improve SSM
reliability.

Yes

19.When you and this provider talked
about starting or stopping a
prescription medicine, did this
provider ask what you thought was
best for you?
Item deleted from 2018 CAHPS for
MIPS Survey

Yes

No change.

N/A

Deleted to improve SSM
reliability.

Yes

Item deleted from 2018 CAHPS for
MIPS Survey

N/A

Deleted to improve SSM
reliability.

Yes

Item deleted from 2018 CAHPS for
MIPS Survey

N/A

Deleted to improve SSM
reliability.

Yes

20.In the last 6 months, did you and this
provider talk about how much of your
personal health information you wanted
shared with your family or friends?

Yes

No change

40. In the last 6 months, did this
provider respect your wishes about
how much of your personal health
information to share with your
family or friends?
41. Using any number from 0 to 10,
where 0 is the worst provider possible
and 10 is the best provider possible,
what number would you use to rate
this provider?

Yes

Item deleted from 2018 CAHPS for
MIPS Survey

N/A

Deleted to improve SSM
reliability.

Yes

21. Using any number from 0 to 10,
where 0 is the worst provider
possible and 10 is the best provider
possible, what number would you use
to rate this provider?

Yes

No change

Yes

Deleted to improve SSM
reliability.

3

SSM Name

Courteous and
Helpful Office Staff

Survey Items in SSM – 2017

Is SSM Used in
2017 Scoring?

Survey Items in SSM – 2018
(Note: underlined text indicates
new language)

Is SSM Used
in 2018
Scoring?
Yes

No change

Yes

No change

No

SSM had low reliability in
prior years and revision to
skip pattern did not
demonstrate substantial
improvements to reliability in
testing.
Deleted to focus SSM on key
aspect of access to specialty
care: ease of getting
appointment.
Removal of this 1-item SSM
promotes alignment with
2018 ACO CAHPS survey.

42. In the last 6 months, how often were
clerks and receptionists at this
provider’s office as helpful as you
thought they should be?
43. In the last 6 months, how often did
clerks and receptionists at this
provider’s office treat you with
courtesy and respect?
46. In the last 6 months, how often was it
easy to get appointments with
specialists?

Yes

47. In the last 6 months, how often did
the specialist you saw most seem
to know the important information
about your medical history?
14. In the last 6 months, did this
provider’s office contact you to
remind you to make an appointment
for tests or treatment?
31. In the last 6 months, how often did
this provider give you easy to
understand instructions about how to
take your medicines?

Yes

Item deleted from 2018 CAHPS for
MIPS Survey

No

Yes

Item deleted from 2018 CAHPS for
MIPS Survey

N/A

Yes

Item deleted from 2018 CAHPS for
MIPS Survey

N/A

Helping You Take
Medication as
Directed

33. Was the written information this
provider gave you easy to understand?

Yes

Item deleted from 2018 CAHPS for
MIPS Survey

N/A

Helping You Take
Medication as
Directed

34. In the last 6 months, did this provider
suggest ways to help you remember to
take your medicines?

Yes

Item deleted from 2018 CAHPS for
MIPS Survey

N/A

Courteous and
Helpful Office Staff
Access to Specialists

Access to Specialists

Between Visit
Communication
Helping You Take
Medication as
Directed

Yes

Yes

22. In the last 6 months, how often were
clerks and receptionists at this
provider’s office as helpful as you
thought they should be?
23. In the last 6 months, how often did
clerks and receptionists at this
provider’s office treat you with
courtesy and respect?
26. In the last 6 months, how often was it
easy to get appointments with
specialists? 1

Reason for Change

SSM had low reliability in
prior years; removal of SSM
promotes alignment with
2018 ACO CAHPS survey.
SSM had low reliability in
prior years; removal of SSM
promotes alignment with
2018 ACO CAHPS survey.
SSM had low reliability in
prior years; removal of SSM
promotes alignment with
2018 ACO CAHPS survey.

1

Revision to skip pattern associated with screening question for Access to Specialist items: 2017, respondents who indicate that provider named in Q1 is a specialist skip
out of specialist section; 2018, skip removed and following instruction added: If Yes, Please include this provider as you answer these questions about specialists.

4

SSM Name

Health Promotion
and Education

Health Promotion
and Education

Health Promotion
and Education
Health Promotion
and Education
Health Promotion
and Education

Health Promotion
and Education

Stewardship of
Patient Resources

Survey Items in SSM – 2017

Is SSM Used in
2017 Scoring?

Survey Items in SSM – 2018
(Note: underlined text indicates
new language)

Is SSM Used
in 2018
Scoring?
Yes

Reason for Change

48. Your health care team includes all
the doctors, nurses and other people
you see for health care. In the last 6
months, did you and anyone on your
health care team talk about specific
things you could do to prevent
illness?
49. In the last 6 months, did you and
anyone on your health care team talk
about a healthy diet and healthy
eating habits?

Yes

Item deleted from 2018 CAHPS for
MIPS Survey

Yes

Yes

Deletion of “prevent illness”
item requires addition of
health care team definition to
this item.

50. In the last 6 months, did you and
anyone on your health care team talk
about the exercise or physical
activity you get?
51. In the last 6 months, did anyone on
your health care team talk with you
about specific goals for your health?
55. In the last 6 months, did anyone
on your health care team ask
you if there was a period of
time when you felt sad, empty,
or depressed?
56. In the last 6 months, did
you and anyone on your
health care team talk about
things in your life that
worry you or cause you
stress?
54. In the last 6 months, did you
and anyone on your health
care team talk about how
much your prescription
medicines cost?

Yes

27. Your health care team includes all
the doctors, nurses and other people
you see for health care. In the last 6
months, did you and anyone on your
health care team talk about a
healthy diet and healthy eating
habits?
28. In the last 6 months, did you and
anyone on your health care team
talk about the exercise or physical
activity you get?
Item deleted from 2018 CAHPS for
MIPS Survey

Yes

No change

Yes

Deleted to improve SSM
reliability.

32. In the last 6 months, did
anyone on your health care
team ask you if there was a
period of time when you felt
sad, empty, or depressed?
33. In the last 6 months, did
you and anyone on your
health care team talk
about things in your life
that worry you or cause
you stress?
31.In the last 6 months, did you and
anyone on your health care team talk
about how much your prescription
medicines cost?

Yes

No change

Yes

No change

Yes

No change

Yes
Yes

Yes

Yes

Deleted to improve SSM
reliability.

5

SSM Name

Survey Items in SSM – 2017

Is SSM Used in
2017 Scoring?

Survey Items in SSM – 2018
(Note: underlined text indicates
new language)

Is SSM Used
in 2018
Scoring?
No

Health Status and
Functional Status

57. In general, how would you rate your
overall health?

Yes

34.In general, how would you rate your
overall health?

Health Status and
Functional Status

58. In general, how would you rate your
overall mental or emotional health?

Yes

35.In general, how would you rate your
overall mental or emotional health?

No

Health Status and
Functional Status

60. Is this a condition or problem that has
lasted for at least 3 months?

Yes

37.Is this a condition or problem that has
lasted for at least 3 months?

No

Health Status and
Functional Status

62. Is this medicine to treat a condition that
has lasted for at least 3 months?

Yes

39.Is this medicine to treat a condition
that has lasted for at least 3 months?

No

Health Status and
Functional Status

Yes

40.During the last 4 weeks, how much of
the time did your physical health
interfere with your social activities
(like visiting with friends, relatives,
etc.)?
49.Because of a physical, mental, or
emotional condition, do you have
serious difficulty concentrating,
remembering, or making decisions?
50. Do you have serious difficulty
walking or climbing stairs?

No

Health Status and
Functional Status

63. During the last 4 weeks, how much
of the time did your physical health
interfere with your social activities
(like visiting with friends, relatives,
etc.)?
72. Because of a physical, mental, or
emotional condition, do you have
serious difficulty concentrating,
remembering, or making decisions?
73. Do you have serious difficulty
walking or climbing stairs?

Health Status and
Functional Status

74. Do you have difficulty dressing or
bathing?

Yes

51.Do you have difficulty dressing or
bathing?

No

Health Status and
Functional Status

75. Because of a physical, mental, or
emotional condition, do you have
difficulty doing errands alone such as
visiting a doctor’s office or shopping?

Yes

52.Because of a physical, mental, or
emotional condition, do you have
difficulty doing errands alone such as
visiting a doctor’s office or shopping?

No

Health Status and
Functional Status

Yes

Yes

Reason for Change

Unclear how much group
contributes to score as
compared to other factors *
Unclear how much group
contributes to score as
compared to other factors *
Unclear how much group
contributes to score as
compared to other factors *
Unclear how much group
contributes to score as
compared to other factors *
Unclear how much group
contributes to score as
compared to other factors *

No

Unclear how much group
contributes to score as
compared to other factors *

No

Unclear how much group
contributes to score as
compared to other factors *
Unclear how much group
contributes to score as
compared to other factors *
Unclear how much group
contributes to score as
compared to other factors *

* SSM provides a description of group’s population characteristics (more descriptive than measure of patient experience); case-mix adjustment not sufficient to separate how much of SSM
score is due to patient experience vs. aspects of underlying health of patients that are outside the control of group; SSM is not a useful measure to compare performance across groups or
inform quality improvement; exclusion of SSM from scoring promotes alignment with 2018 ACO CAHPS survey (SSM is pay-for-reporting ACO measure).

6