December 2020
‘Have you had a flu shot?’ and Other CAHPS® Survey Questions
Although the seasonal influenza activity in the U.S. remains low, you may want to ask patients if they’ve gotten their flu vaccine yet. If they haven’t, explain the benefits and work on a plan to help them get it. December 6-12 is National Influenza Vaccination Week and a good time to encourage patients who haven’t received their flu shot yet to get one.
Have you had a flu shot since July 1 of the previous year? is also one of the questions on the annual Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey.
The CAHPS survey evaluates how satisfied members are with their health plans and prescription drug services. Member satisfaction is impacted by experiences and interactions the member has with every part of their health plan, including you, the provider community. That’s why it’s so important for all of us to be focused on member satisfaction throughout the year.
The results of the CAHPS survey also factor into the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Star ratings for Medicare Advantage and Part D programs. The CAHPS survey is administered to a random sample of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois members from March through June 2021.
Some additional questions members are asked on the CAHPS survey include:
- How often did you get an appointment to see a specialist as soon as you needed?
- How often did you see the person you came to see within 15 minutes of your appointment time?
- How often did you and your personal doctor talk about all the prescription medicines you are taking?
- How often did your personal doctor seem informed and up-to-date about the care you received from specialists?
The above material is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for the independent medical judgment of a physician or other health care provider. Physicians and other health care providers are encouraged to use their own medical judgment based upon all available information and the condition of the patient in determining the appropriate course of treatment. The fact that a service or treatment is described in this material is not a guarantee that the service or treatment is a covered benefit and members should refer to their certificate of coverage for more details, including benefits, limitations and exclusions. Regardless of benefits, the final decision about any service or treatment is between the member and their health care provider.