Providers Criticize CMS’ Use of Surveys To Judge Care
A new CMS program will tie millions of Medicare dollars to patient experiences, but hospitals and health care providers say that the agency's patient surveys may not be the best way to assess care quality and provider interactions. Physicians and nurses argue that some of the survey questions conflict with care efforts and that health care systems sometimes cannot provide a pleasant patient experience when treating certain illnesses. Federal officials say the surveys took years to create and are an accurate indicator of quality care.
- Â "U.S. Ties Hospital Payments to Making Patients Happy" (Adamy, Wall Street Journal, 10/14).