Each year, thousands of people in the United States die from flu, and many more are
hospitalized. We encourage you to talk to your patients about getting a flu vaccine to help stop them from getting or spreading the flu.
The flu vaccine is a survey question for the annual Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) evaluation.
The CAHPS survey evaluates how satisfied members are with their health plans and prescription drug services. Member satisfaction is impacted by experiences and interactions the member has with every part of their health plan, including you, the provider community. That’s why it’s so important for all of us to be focused on member satisfaction throughout the year.
Survey Question:
“Have you had a flu shot since July 1, 2023?” is one of the questions on the annual CAHPS survey.
Measure adherence is determined by member response via the CAHPS Health Plan Survey.
- Denominator = The number of members with a flu vaccination for adults ages 18–64 who responded “Yes” or “No” to the question: “Have you had either a flu shot or flu spray in the nose since July 1, YYYY?” on the CAHPS Health Plan Survey.
- Numerator = The number of members in the denominator who responded “Yes” to the question “Have you had either a flu shot or flu spray in the nose since July 1, YYYY?” on the CAHPS Health Plan Survey.
Measure Description
The percentage of patients 65 years of age and older who received a flu vaccination between July 1 of the measurement year and the date when the CAHPS survey was completed.
How To Improve CAHPS Scores
Identify an “Immunization Champion” to lead and monitor flu vaccination efforts at the office.
- Institute a standing order program (SOP) to allow non-physician clinical staff to assess eligibility for vaccination and vaccinate patients and educate staff about the SOP.
- Turn on reminders/prompts for the flu vaccine if on electronic medical records (EMR). Review vaccine status in EMR.
- Flag the charts of all patients needing flu vaccine with a brightly colored sheet if not on EMR.
- Encourage staff vaccination (can also be used to show patients the importance of vaccination).
- Provide a list of pharmacy locations if you do not offer the flu vaccine.
- Address any hesitations the member may have about receiving the flu vaccine. (Examples: Flu vaccines do not cause flu. Flu vaccines aren’t safe.)
- Educate patients that the seasonal flu vaccine protects against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. Each season requires a different vaccine.
Keep up to date with the CDC’s flu recommendations and educational resources.
JP 63744 11/2023