ICH CAHPS Survey Composite Measures Beginning with the Revised 2026 Survey
folder_openData Submissionscalendar_todayPosted July 28, 2026

Beginning with the 2026 Spring Survey administration, to reduce patient burden, the ICH CAHPS Survey was revised to contain fewer questions. The changes to the survey impact both 1) the composites and ratings that are publicly reported on Care Compare on Medicare.gov, and 2) the patient-mix variables that will be used to create the publicly reported scores.

The Care Compare October 2026 Refresh will contain data from the 2025 Spring and 2025 Fall Surveys, which both used the original survey. However, beginning with the April 2027 Refresh, the ICH CAHPS Survey data reported on Care Compare will look different:

• Nephrologists’ Communications and Caring (NCC) composite measure: This composite measure will no longer be reported.
• Quality of Dialysis Center Care and Operations (QDCCO): This composite measure is made up of 4 fewer questions for a total of 13, and question numbers making up this composite will be different.
• Providing Information to Patients (PIP): This composite measure will remain the same but question numbers making up this composite will be different.
• Rating of Nephrologists: This global rating will no longer be reported.
• Rating of Dialysis Center Staff: This global rating will remain.
• Rating of Dialysis Center: This global rating will remain.

A document listing the new question numbers for the QDCCO and PIP composite measures can be found here: https://ichcahps.org/Survey-and-Protocols.

In addition to the changes in the composites and ratings being reported, the set of patient-mix variables used to create publicly reported scores will change. For the April 2027 Refresh, 2025 Fall Survey scores will be recalculated using the new set of patient-mix variables so that they match the 2026 Spring Survey scores. The document, “Coefficients & Star Ratings for Current Data on Care Compare on Medicare.gov,” which is available in the website Quick Links box, will be updated before the April 2027 Refresh to reflect the new patient-mix information.

We encourage vendors and facilities to review these updates to become familiar with the revised measures and reporting approach.

Please feel free to contact the ICH CAHPS Coordination Team via email at ichcahps@rti.org if you have any questions.