Updated ICH CAHPS Data Submission and XML Schema Validation Tools Available
folder_openData Submissionscalendar_todayPosted May 18, 2026

The online ICH CAHPS Data Submission Tool and XML Schema Validation Tool have been updated for the 2026 Spring Survey data submission period to reflect the changes made to the revised survey. Both updated tools are available on the ICH CAHPS website and can be accessed by survey vendors logging in and navigating to the desired link under the “Data Submission” menu.

The purpose of the XML Schema Validation Tool is to help survey vendors test their XML files developed for data submission, prior to actually submitting data. In the Data Submission Tool, vendors can upload up to five XML data files at once. Additional submission tips and information can be found on the Data Submission Resources webpage.

Due to the revisions made to the ICH CAHPS Survey prior to the 2026 ICH CAHPS Spring Survey, now 38 questions as opposed to the previous 62 questions, it is strongly recommended that survey vendors complete the following quality control (QC) checks early in the data collection period, in addition to the typical QC checks performed prior to the data submission deadline:

1. Vendors should perform QC checks to ensure that both their mail scanning/keying systems and their CATI systems are functioning properly based on the revised mail survey and telephone script. Vendors should utilize the XML Schema Validation Tool to QC data.
   1. Once a vendor has preliminary data, we encourage you to submit a couple files using the Data Submission Tool to confirm that everything looks correct in the Data Submission History reports for those submissions. Note that submitting the final data file in July will replace any preliminary data submitted for testing.
2. Vendors should perform QC checks on the new race question in both their mail and CATI systems. Please keep in mind that there is now one single question combining ethnicity and race, fewer race response options, two brand-new race response categories, and no race subcategory questions in CATI.
3. Vendors can compare the frequencies of their 2025 Fall response data for each question that remained in the survey to ensure survey systems are accurately capturing the proper values for each question; if frequencies appear to be drastically different for a certain question, vendors should check their systems and data accordingly.

Vendors are encouraged to initiate these QC checks after Wave 1 data collection activities, which began on May 1^st and then again after the Wave 2 data collection efforts that will begin on May 29^th, once mail and/or phone data has been received.

The deadline for submitting data files from the 2026 Spring Survey to the Data Center is at 5:00 PM Eastern Time on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. Vendors are encouraged to submit their final data files as soon as possible to allow adequate time to correct any problems identified and re-submit the files before the deadline.

Please feel free to contact the ICH CAHPS Coordination Team via email at ichcahps@rti.org or call 1-866-245-8083 if you have any questions or need help with data submissions.