Frequently Asked Questions
In general, all Medicare-certified hospices (identified by CMS Certification Number [CCN]) must participate in the CAHPS Hospice Survey in order to receive their full APU. However, certain exemptions are granted by CMS for size or newness.
Exemption for Size
"Reference Period" or Decedent Date of Death | CY | Exemption Form Deadline | Exemption Request Review by CMS | Affects APU |
Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2022 | 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 | 2024 | FY 2025 |
Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2023 | 2024 | Dec 31, 2024 | 2025 | FY 2026 |
Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2024 | 2025 | Dec 31, 2025 | 2026 | FY 2027 |
Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2025 | 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | 2027 | FY 2028 |
CY – Calendar Year
FY – Fiscal year
Exemption for Newness
The CAHPS Hospice Survey is currently a “pay-for-reporting” program, which means that the submission of required data by specified deadlines determines compliance. Data submission requirements include the following:
Data collection for sampled decedents/caregivers must be initiated two months following the month of patient death. The data collection process must be completed within 42 calendar days after initial contact. Submission of the data to the CAHPS Hospice Survey Data Warehouse will occur quarterly. Please see the schedule outlined in the table below.
Month of Death | Initial Contact with Sampled Decedents/Caregivers | Data Submission to the CAHPS Hospice Survey Data Warehouse |
April 2025 |
July 1, 2025 | November 12, 2025 |
May 2025 | August 1, 2025 | |
June 2025 | September 1, 2025 | |
July 2025 | October 1, 2025 | February 11, 2026 |
August 2025 | November 1, 2025 | |
September 2025 | December 1, 2025 | |
October 2025 | January 1, 2026 | May 13, 2026 |
November 2025 | February 1, 2026 | |
December 2025 | March 1, 2026 | |
January 2026 | April 1, 2026 | August 12, 2026 |
February 2026 | May 1, 2026 | |
March 2026 | June 1, 2026 |
Decedents/Caregivers who initiate or voluntarily request at any time during their stay that the hospice 1) not reveal the patient's identity and/or 2) not survey him or her will be excluded from the sample frame. Patients whose last admission to hospice resulted in a live discharge will also be excluded.
For more detailed information about determining survey eligibility, please see the Quality Assurance Guidelines, available here