Residents of the greater Portland area, including those in York County, are being asked to weigh in on health care by participating in a survey. From February through April, health insurers are conducting a survey called the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, which is mailed to select people with health insurance, including those enrolled in an individual plan, an employer-sponsored plan and Medicare. Responses are kept anonymous and the feedback is being sought to help improve the health care system.

Survey responses help the government and insurance providers identify ways to better serve people and improve the care they receive. The government and insurers want to make sure that people in the Portland area receive good medical care from doctors they trust. The CAHPS survey is one tool used to achieve this goal.

The CAHPS survey is an important opportunity for Americans to have a say in how health care changes in the years ahead. I encourage people in the Portland area to respond to the survey, as this one simple step can help improve health care for all of us.

-Dr. Dennis Hsieh, medical director, UnitedHealthcare, East region