title: Understanding the reporting practices of CAHPS sponsors.
abstract: This article examines the reporting of Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPSO) consumer experience data by sponsors, those that fund data collection and decide how information is summarized and disseminated. We found that sponsors typically publicly reported comparative data to consumers, employers, and/or purchasers. They presented health plan-level data in print and online at least annually, usually in combination with non-CAHPS information. Many provided trend data, comparisons to individual plans, and summary scores. Most shared information consistent with known successful reporting practices. Areas meriting attention include: tailoring reports to specific audiences, assessing literacy, planning dissemination, educating vendors, and evaluating products and programs.
authors.affiliation: RAND Health and Pardee RAND Graduate School, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138, USA. teleki@rand.org
authors.forename: Stephanie S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Teleki
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Kanouse
authors.forename: Marc N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Liisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hiatt
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: Denise D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Quigley
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000592:standards; D019985:Benchmarking; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004282:Documentation; D006265:Health Care Coalitions; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D008484:Medicaid; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000592:standards; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D016270:United States Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality