About the CAHPS Database

The CAHPS Database is the repository for data from selected CAHPS surveys. The primary purpose of the CAHPS Database is to facilitate comparisons of CAHPS survey results by and among survey users. The CAHPS Database offers several products and services, including comparative benchmark results presented through an Online Reporting System, summary Chartbooks, custom analyses, and data for research purposes. Participation in the CAHPS Database is free and open to all survey users. The CAHPS Database currently includes data from the CAHPS Health Plan Survey and the CAHPS Clinician & Group Survey.

Learn more about Health Plan surveys and guidance

Learn more about Clinician & Group surveys and guidance

Benefits of Submitting Data

CAHPS survey users who voluntarily submit their data to the CAHPS Database receive access to

• A secure, password-protected portal enabling them to directly compare their CAHPS results to selected benchmarks (for example, by region, size, ownership, specialties, etc.). This secure portion of the Online Reporting System also supports the creation of custom, downloadable reports.
• Organizations that submit data may also request a custom Excel report that includes their survey results in a single file sent directly to their desktop.

Health Plan Survey Database

The Health Plan Survey component has served as the core of the CAHPS Database since its inception in 1998. Since that time, hundreds of health plans, purchaser groups, State agencies, and others have participated in this component by submitting yearly results from the CAHPS Health Plan Survey.

Learn more about submitting data to Health Plan CAHPS.

Clinician & Group Survey Database

The CAHPS Clinician & Group Survey (CG-CAHPS) Database is the newest component of the CAHPS Database. It was developed in response to the growing demand for comparative results for the various versions of the CG-CAHPS Survey.

Learn more about submitting data to CG-CAHPS.

Comparative Data

The CAHPS Online Reporting System is a Web-based platform for viewing Health Plan and Clinician & Group Survey results. The reporting system consists of two major components: 1) a public site available to anyone with access to the Internet, and 2) a submitter's site available only to survey users that contribute data.

Learn more about comparative data.

CAHPS Health Plan Survey Database 2016 Chartbook. In November 2016 the CAHPS Database released the CAHPS Health Plan Survey Database 2016 Chartbook: What Consumers Say About Their Experiences with Their Health Plans and Medical Care. This chartbook presents national summary-level results for the CAHPS Health Plan Survey 5.0 version for 2016. In addition, 9-year trend results from 2007-2016 for the top-box scores are presented for the Adult and Child Medicaid and Medicare populations.

• Read the CAHPS Health Plan Survey Database 2016 Chartbook (PDF/HTML, 735 KB; PDF Help)

CAHPS Clinician & Group Survey Database 2015 Chartbook. In July 2016, the CAHPS Database released the CAHPS Clinician & Group Survey Database 2015 Chartbook: What Patients Say About Their Health Care Providers and Medical Practices. This chartbook contains summery level results from 636,468 survey responses submitted by 2,829 medical practices.

• Read the CAHPS Clinician & Group Survey Database 2015 Chartbook (PDF/HTML , 1,630 KB; PDF Help)

Request Data for Research

Researchers may gain authorized access to de-identified data files from the CAHPS Database to help answer important health services research questions related to patient experience of care as measured by CAHPS. A Summary of Research Projects Using Data from the CAHPS Databases is available (PDF, 450 KB; PDF Help).

Survey data may be granted to researchers who submit an application and sign a data use agreement that ensures the confidentiality of the data. Researchers are invited to submit applications for specific analysis projects to the CAHPS Database Management Committee for review and approval.

Learn more about the Research Data