More Information about ICH Facility Participation in the 2015 ICH CAHPS Survey
folder_openFacility Participation Requirementscalendar_todayPosted January 22, 2015

In-center hemodialysis (ICH) facilities that served 29 or fewer survey-eligible patients in calendar year (CY) 2014 are not required to participate in the ICH CAHPS Survey in CY2015. However, all such facilities can choose one of the following three options:

• Option 1. Administer the survey in 2015 following all of the ICH protocols and procedures described in the ICH CAHPS Survey Administration and Specifications Manual;
• Option 2. Administer the survey using a third party vendor but not following the ICH CAHPS protocols and procedures; or
• Option 3. Choose not to administer the survey at all.

If a facility that served 29 or fewer survey-eligible patients in CY2014 chooses Option 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will provide a patient sample to the facility’s authorized ICH CAHPS Survey vendor for each of the two 2015 ICH CAHPS Surveys. The surveys must be conducted according to all ICH CAHPS Survey protocols and procedures, which include the following:

• Using a CMS-approved ICH CAHPS Survey vendor to administer the survey on its behalf;
• Administering both the 2015 ICH CAHPS Spring and Fall Surveys;
• Adhering to the ICH CAHPS survey administration procedures and protocols described in the ICH CAHPS Survey Administration and Specifications Manual when administering the survey; and
• Submitting an ICH CAHPS Survey data file for each survey period to the ICH CAHPS Data Center.

If an ICH facility chooses Option 2 or Option 3, the facility must complete and submit the online Facility Non-Participation Form, which is available on the private side of ICH CAHPS website under the For Facilities tab. CMS will not select and provide patient samples for a facility that chooses to administer the survey without adhering to the ICH CAHPS Survey administration protocols and procedures (Option 2), nor will it accept data files containing data from the survey(s) conducted. The ICH facility will be responsible for working with a survey vendor to select the samples for the survey that will be conducted and for conducting all other aspects of the survey.

Please contact the ICH CAHPS Coordination Team at 1-866-245-8083 or via e-mail at ichcahps@rti.org if you have any questions or need more information about the Facility Non-Participation Form or the requirements for participating in the 2015 ICH CAHPS Survey.