A code-division multiple access base station assisted quality soft handoff algorithm screens or filters out candidate pilot signals from a pilot strength measurement message generated by a mobile station and provides the revised pilot strength measurement message to the mobile switching center of the mobile communication system. The mobile switching center subsequently conducts handoff processing in accordance with the revised pilot strength measurement message. If the combined pilot signal strength of the existing mobile station active legs is less than a first threshold, the current pilot strength measurement message is maintained. If the combined pilot signal strength of the existing mobile station active legs is greater than or equal to the first threshold, all candidate pilot signals are deleted from the pilot strength measurement message such that only pilot signals of existing mobile station active legs remain. Also, if the pilot signal strength of a candidate pilot signal is greater than a second threshold, the candidate pilot signal is added to the pilot strength measurement message. The number of handoffs per call are reduced using the revised pilot strength measurement message such that forward link power and network processing resources are conserved.