CAHPS Databases

What Are the CAHPS Databases?

The CAHPS Databases are AHRQ's data repositories for selected CAHPS surveys. The primary purpose of the CAHPS Databases are to facilitate comparisons of CAHPS survey results by and among survey users. This voluntary compilation of survey results from a large pool of survey users into central databases enables participants to compare their own results to relevant reference points, such as overall and regional averages. The CAHPS Databases also offer important sources of primary data for research related to patient and consumer assessments of quality as measured by CAHPS surveys.

Visit the AHRQ Data Tools CAHPS Landing Page.

What Data Are in the CAHPS Databases?

The CAHPS program administers databases for three CAHPS surveys:

• CAHPS Health Plan Survey—Results for the Medicaid Survey submitted by various sponsors, including public employers, State Medicaid agencies, State Children's Health Insurance Programs (CHIP), and individual health plans, as well as Medicare Survey results provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. This database has been operational since 1998.
• CAHPS Clinician & Group Survey—Results for multiple versions of this survey submitted by various sponsors, including practice sites, medical groups, and regional health collaboratives. This database has been operational since 2010.
• New: CAHPS Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Survey—Results for this cross-disability survey submitted by State Medicaid agencies and the managed care entities with which they contract. Learn about the CAHPS HCBS Survey Database.

Review a summary table describing the composition of the CAHPS Databases.

How Can I See Results From CAHPS Surveys?

To support the use of results from the Health Plan Survey and the Clinician & Group Survey, the CAHPS program produces summary chartbooks and provides access to aggregated results for composite measures, rating measures, and individual survey items, organized according to survey version and field period.

How Do I Participate in the CAHPS Databases?

Participation in the CAHPS Databases is free and open to users of the Health Plan Survey and Home and Community-Based Services Survey that administer surveys according to CAHPS specifications. In return, participating organizations can access a Private Feedback Report in Excel with their own results compared to the overall Database average.

To participate in the CAHPS Databases, survey users must meet certain requirements and submit specified information, including their survey data, through an online data submission system. Learn about submitting data to the CAHPS Databases.

IMPORTANT UPDATE on the CAHPS Clinician & Group Survey Database: AHRQ is suspending new data submissions for the CG-CAHPS Survey Database beginning in 2021 due to anticipated declines in participation.

Can I Use Survey Results From the CAHPS Databases To Do Research?

Yes, you may request access to research datasets, which are de-identified data files from the CAHPS Databases, to help answer important health services research questions related to patient experience of care as measured by CAHPS surveys. AHRQ reviews and approves research requests year-round. On average, the time from receipt of request to release of data is approximately 45 days.

Questions? Email CAHPSDatabase@westat.com (Subject Line: De-identified CAHPS data).