Information on CAHPS Response Patterns

CMS conducts annual analyses to determine non-response patterns for Medicare CAHPS surveys. Unit response rates follow patterns typical for health surveys (Klein et al., 2011), including higher response rates for non-Hispanic whites than for other racial/ethnic subgroups, higher response rates through age 79, and lower response rates for low-income beneficiaries.

Though we do not have specific non-response information for SEER-CAHPS, we recommend referring to and citing relevant analyses using Medicare CAHPS, and using provided weights for SEER-CAHPS analyses to account for sample design and nonresponse. Please find additional information on the CMS website.

Selected References

Beckett MB, Elliott MN, Gaillot S, Haas A, Dembosky JW, Giordano LA, Brown J. Establishing limits for supplemental items on a standardized national survey. Public Opinion Quarterly 2016; 80(4): 964-976 DOI: 10.1093/poq/nfw028

Klein DJ, Elliott MN, Haviland AM, et al. Understanding nonresponse to the 2007 Medicare CAHPS survey. Gerontologist 2011; 51: 843–855.