Title Text

Dissemination of Reports and Data

Each year, new releases of reports are made available to Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) participating in the Health Outcomes Survey (HOS). For Cohorts 1-5 Baseline and Cohorts 1-2 Performance Measurement, hard copy reports were disseminated to MAOs via an overnight carrier. Effective Fall 2003, hard copy reports were no longer distributed to MAOs and all report distribution occurs electronically to participating MAOs through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Health Plan Management System (HPMS). Baseline, Performance Measurement, and HEDIS HOS Effectiveness of Care (HEDIS HOS) Reports, as well as Star Ratings Validation and Aggregate Score Analysis tables, are available via HPMS through the Quality and Performance/HOS module. Since 2021, the HEDIS HOS Reports include the HEDIS Effectiveness of Care measures that were previously found in the Baseline Report.

MAOs may contact their CMS Quality Point of Contact to obtain access to their HOS reports. An HPMS User ID is required to access HPMS. The CMS website provides information on how to establish access to HPMS: https://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Computer-Data-and-Systems/HPMS/UserIDProcess.html. For assistance regarding HPMS access, please contact CMS via email at hpms_access@cms.hhs.gov. For earlier reports that were disseminated in hard copy format, electronic replacements can be ordered through the HOS Information and Technical Support email (hos@hsag.com). There is a modest replacement fee, which covers the cost of report reproduction. 

Each year, new releases of data are made available to MAOs. The HOS data are sent by electronic Secure File Transfer to the designated MAO recipient (one per company). Participating MAOs may obtain their data by contacting hos@hsag.com. The data recipient will receive an email from hosdata@hsag.com containing instructions and a link to the Secure File Manager facility. Clicking on the link will allow for creation of an account and password establishment. The data will be available to download at that time.

Note: For Cohorts 1-16 Baseline and Cohorts 1-13 Performance Measurement, the state-level reports and data were also distributed to participating Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) through the CMS QualityNet Application.

Complete information about the dissemination and availability of Medicare HOS reports and data to MAOs is available for each cohort below.

Medicare HOS Report and Data Distribution to MAOs