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CAHPS Cues: Patient Conversations About Prescriptions

Published Date: 2025-08-20

This month, we’re highlighting an important aspect of patient care: the frequency that providers discuss a patient’s various prescription medications.

For our Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plan (DSNP) population, addressing prescription medicines is critical. Many of our members take multiple medications, which increases the risk of drug interactions, confusion, and non-adherence. Taking the time to review all medications during each visit can improve safety, build trust, and positively impact Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) scores.

Why Medication Discussions Matter

Avoiding conflicts: Many patients see multiple providers, which can lead to overlapping or conflicting prescriptions.
Improving adherence: When patients understand the purpose and side effects of their medications, they’re more likely to take them as prescribed.
Simplifying care: Reviewing medications can help identify opportunities to reduce complexity, such as eliminating duplicate or unnecessary prescriptions.

Tips for Effective Medication Reviews:

Patient Experience Survey Question: How often did you and your personal doctor talk about all the prescription medicines you were taking?
Pre-Visit	Request a medication list for the appointment, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and supplements. Coordinate with pharmacies by using electronic health records (EHR) to gather up-to-date prescription information.
During the Office Visit	Review every medication a patient is taking, explaining what it is for and confirming they are taking as directed. Ask open-ended questions about side effects, medication schedule, etc. Discuss potential interactions. Provide clarity around complexities, side effects, etc.
Post-Visit	Offer a medication summary. Follow up to ensure patients are taking any new prescriptions correctly. Engage caregivers to support medication management.

Frequent, clear conversations about prescription medicines strengthen the doctor-patient relationship and improve health outcomes. For our DSNP members, this extra attention can prevent medication errors, reduce confusion, and support adherence—all while ensuring patients feel valued and heard.

Together, we can ensure every patient receives the safe, effective care they deserve.