Empowering Recovery: A Look at the Information Transfer PRO-PM

Outpatient Surgery: Convenient, Fast… and Sometimes a Bit Too Fast? 

Outpatient surgery has become the modern standard for many procedures. It’s efficient, cost-effective, and lets patients recover in the comfort of their own homes. But there’s a catch: when patients are discharged the same day, often still groggy from anesthesia, they may not fully grasp the instructions they’re given for recovery. 

That’s where the Information Transfer Patient Reported Outcome-Based Performance Measure (Information Transfer PRO-PM) comes in. This measure is designed to ensure that patients don’t just receive recovery instructions, they actually understand them. 

Why This Measure Exists (And Why It Matters) 

The shift toward outpatient care continues to accelerate. Outpatient surgeries among Medicare beneficiaries have seen a significant increase, accompanied by a substantial rise in Medicare spending, amounting to billions of dollars in additional costs. As CMS expands the list of procedures eligible for outpatient reimbursement, surgeries are becoming more complex, making clear and effective communication more critical than ever. 

Unfortunately, research shows that patients in outpatient settings often receive less complete discharge information than those in inpatient care. One study found that inpatient providers were significantly more likely to communicate essential details about medications and follow-up tests. The consequences of poor communication are serious: 

• Medication errors  

• Missed follow-up care  

• Increased emergency department visits  

• Lower patient satisfaction  

• Higher risks for older adults and those with limited English proficiency  

The Information Transfer PRO-PM was developed to address this gap by focusing on what really matters: patient understanding. 

A Measure Built on Real-World Feedback 

This measure wasn’t created in a vacuum. In 2018–2019, CMS asked the Yale Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE) to explore new ways to measure quality in outpatient settings. CORE brought together five stakeholder groups, patients, clinicians, hospital leaders, EHR vendors, and federal agency reps, to gather insights. 

The feedback was clear: patients were often discharged from Hospital Outpatient Departments (HOPDs) and Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs) without the information they needed. Many didn’t know the name of their procedure, what was discovered during surgery, or how to manage their recovery. They lacked guidance on when to take or stop medications, how to care for wounds, or when it was safe to return to work or drive. 

This led to the creation of a measure that captures the patient’s perspective on the clarity and usefulness of the information they received. 

What it Measures 

At the heart of the Information Transfer PRO-PM is a 9-item survey completed by patients (or caregivers) within 2 to 7 days after their procedure. The survey evaluates three key domains: 

• Applicability: Was the information tailored to the patient’s specific health needs and personal circumstances? 

• Medications: Did the patient understand how to take new medications, what side effects to watch for, and when to stop? 

• Daily Activities: Were instructions about resuming normal activities, like eating, exercising, working, or driving, clear and actionable? 

Patients are asked to rate the clarity of all information received throughout their episode of care, including pre-op consultations, discharge summaries, follow-up calls, and any educational materials provided. 

Here’s a look at the Information Transfer PRO-PM Survey: Survey

How Performance Is Measured

The Information Transfer PRO-PM uses a “top-box” scoring method, which focuses on the most positive responses to assess how well hospitals communicate recovery instructions. This method is designed to reflect excellence, not just adequacy, in patient communication. 

Denominator: Who’s Counted 

The denominator includes all patients who meet the following criteria: 

• Are 18 years or older 

• Had a procedure or surgery at a Hospital Outpatient Department (HOPD) 

• Were discharged alive 

• Completed the survey fully 

• Had a stay of less than two midnights 

Only fully completed surveys are included in the calculation, ensuring data integrity and consistency. 

Which Codes Are Included? 

To streamline reporting and reduce provider burden, the Information Transfer PRO-PM aligns with the OAS CAHPS survey cohort. This means it includes: 

• CPT-4 codes 10004–69990 (covering a wide range of surgeries)  

• G-codes G0104, G0105, G0121, G0260 (typically for colorectal screenings) 

This alignment ensures consistency across quality reporting programs and simplifies data collection. 

Numerator: Measuring Top-Box Responses 

The numerator is calculated by adding up the individual scores from all eligible survey respondents (patients or caregivers). Each individual score is determined using the following steps: 

1. Top-Box Responses: For each of the nine survey items, only the most positive responses, “Yes” or “Very Clear” are counted. 

1. Applicable Items: Not all questions may apply to every patient. If a respondent selects “Does not apply” for an item, that item is excluded from their score. 

1. Score Calculation: The individual score is the number of top-box responses divided by the number of applicable items (i.e., nine minus any “Does not apply” responses). 

This ensures that patients are only scored on the items relevant to their experience, making the measure personalized and fair. 

Calculating the Final Score

The hospital’s overall performance score is the average of all individual patient scores. A higher score indicates that more patients felt the recovery information they received was clear, relevant, and easy to understand. 

This is not a risk-adjusted measure.

This scoring method: 

• Sets a high bar by only rewarding the most positive responses 

• Highlights excellence in communication, not just adequacy 

• Identifies gaps in patient understanding that may not be visible through traditional Process measures 

By focusing on what patients actually understood, not just what they were told, this measure provides hospitals with actionable insights to improve communication, reduce complications, and support safer recoveries. 

Reporting Requirements and Timeline 

This measure is moving fast. The voluntary reporting period starts at the beginning of 2026 and moves to mandatory in the following year.

• Data collection: January 1 – December 31, 2026 
• Submission deadline: May 15, 2027 

• Data collection: January 1 – December 31, 2027 

• Submission deadline: May 15, 2028 

Why Voluntary Reporting Matters 

Voluntary reporting gives hospitals a chance to: 

• Test their data submission processes  

• Receive confidential feedback reports  

• Review and interpret their results  

• Ask questions and provide feedback to CMS  

It’s a low-risk opportunity to get familiar with the measure before it becomes mandatory and the results are publicly posted.

A Bigger Role: Inclusion in the TEAM Model 

The Information Transfer PRO-PM isn’t just a standalone measure, it’s also been proposed for inclusion in CMS’s new Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM), launching in 2026. TEAM is a mandatory bundled payment model that holds hospitals accountable for the cost and quality of care from surgery through 30 days post-discharge. 

By including this measure in TEAM, CMS is sending a clear message: effective communication is essential to high-quality, cost-effective care. 

Hospitals participating in TEAM will need to demonstrate not only cost control but also that they’re equipping patients with the knowledge they need to recover safely and confidently. 

How Hospitals Can Prepare 

Getting ready for the Information Transfer PRO-PM measure doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a structured approach and a bit of teamwork, hospitals can set themselves up for success.

Here’s how:

Start by setting up the survey. How will this survey be administered? Will it be electronic or distributed on paper? Are you sticking to these nine questions or adding more? Here's the survey questions one more time.

Consider assembling a task force to guide the rollout. Include a mix of voices: clinicians, hospital leaders, discharge staff, and patients. This group can help:

• Determine how best to set up the survey, including which questions (if you're adding more than the nine), what mode (verbal, written, electronic or even video), who is administering the survey, and when.
• Enhance standards for discharge processes so patients get consistent information.
• Train staff to deliver recovery instructions that are clear, personalized, and relevant.

Timing is everything! Patients (or caregivers) must complete the survey 2 to 7 days after their procedure. Assign a dedicated team or individual to manage this process so nothing falls through the cracks.

Work with your IT team to ensure survey data flows smoothly into your EHR system. This helps:

• Keep everything in one place
• Maintain consistency
• Reinforce key messages across formats
• Spot communication gaps early

Don’t just collect data, use it! Keep an eye on survey feedback to catch and fix communication gaps. Review survey results to:

• Identify where patients are missing key info
• Analyze scores across the three domains
• Engage with patients and caregivers for deeper insights

This is your chance to fine-tune communication and help patients feel more confident managing their recovery.

Use the voluntary reporting period in 2026 to test your systems, get feedback, and ask questions. This dry run will help you hit the ground running when mandatory reporting kicks in for 2027.

Final Thoughts: Communication Is Care 

The Information Transfer PRO-PM is more than a metric, it’s a reflection of how well we support patients during one of the most vulnerable moments in their healthcare journey. It reminds us that good care doesn’t end when the procedure does. It continues through every conversation, every instruction, and every effort to make sure patients feel informed and empowered. Because when patients understand what to do next, they’re not just recovering, they’re thriving.