Let’s Begin to Think About and Plan for CG-CAHPS
By Cyndi Tierney, M. Ed., Consultant (HCAHPs and other Surveys), HealthStream
Last January, my husband and I bought a foreclosure and decided to rehab it from top to bottom. Over the past year, we’ve demoed most of the townhouse, moving from room to room as each was finished. When the place was reasonably habitable, we moved in, what we called our “OCCUPY CONDO” movement—feverishly dry-walling, painting, and working out the punch list.
A Hearty Bowl of Alphabet Soup: CG-CAHPS, PCMHs and ACOS
Out there in the effort to assess ambulatory care, there’s renovation work going on as well. The CAHPS survey eventually made it to the medical practice neighborhood, opening the doors to CG-CAHPS 1.0 in 2006. It’s had some rehabilitation along the way, going from C-CAHPS to A-CAHPS, and most recently, a 2.0 version unveiled last November. The biggest impact of this update was the inclusion of advanced practice clinicians. A simple word change from “this doctor” to “this provider” now allows the instrument to be used for the full spectrum of practitioners.
The Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH), with its 18 item set add-on, is also housed within the framework of the core survey. NCQA has included the PCMH version of the survey as part of their accreditation process. They aren’t the only ones who have pronounced a “passing inspection.” The lights are on with ABMS, the American Board of Medical Specialties, and ABIM, the American Board of Internal Medicine. ACOs have also given a nod to the assessment, stipulating CG-CAHPS for the Patient/Caregiver Experience.
Getting Used to CG-CAHPS Before the Scores Matter
Most of us are aware that there is a gap between closing on a home and the first mortgage payment--isn’t there a word for that?? It’s a grace period of sorts. That’s where we are today with CG-CAHPS--a window of time when no CMS note is due, and scores haven’t begun to affect reimbursements. And even though they haven’t mandated a move-in date, these various governing bodies have taken up residence.
The house of CAHPS may not be ready for a Parade of Homes, but medical practices are starting the survey process ahead of compliance. They are using this interim time to get their houses in order, rethinking delivery of care, revising processes, and retraining providers and staff. The appraiser is coming, and his name is CG-CAHPS.
Are YOU Thinking About CG-CAHPS? You Need to Be.
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