The intent of the HCAHPS initiative is
to provide a standardized survey instrument and data collection
methodology for measuring patients' perspectives on hospital care.
While many hospitals collect information on patient satisfaction,
there is no national standard for collecting or publicly reporting
this information that would enable valid comparisons to be made
across all hospitals.
CMS will remove the three
Communication About Pain items (items 12, 13 and 14) from the
HCAHPS Survey effective with October 2019 discharges. Removal of
these three items from the HCAHPS Survey reduces burden to
patients, as shown above in section 12, but has no effect on
hospitals, as shown in section 13. The burden hours have decreased
from 417,990 to 379,290.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.