CMS: Participation in Bureau of Labor Statistics surveys important

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is asking health care providers to participate in surveys used to adjust Medicare fee-for-service payments each year, affecting about $300 billion in payments.

Providers are asked only to participate when contacted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which conducts numerous surveys of hospitals and health care providers so that the government can make economic decisions that affect the entire health care system.

Participation in the surveys helps ensure the data are as accurate as possible, CMS advises. Many health care providers don’t complete the survey, which can reduce the representativeness of the data and increase volatility in estimates. Participation in these surveys helps address these issues and increases the validity of the data.

Besides CMS, key users include the Federal Reserve Bank and the U.S. Congress.

Participation is voluntary, confidential and the data are only used for statistical purposes.

For questions or concerns or to contact a Bureau of Labor Statistics information specialist directly, call 1-202-691-5200.