Your answers are protected under the Federal Privacy Act of 1974. The information you report is combined with information provided by many others and only used to describe Medicare beneficiaries as a group. No information that could identify you individually is publicly released.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT?
Congratulations!
You have been selected to participate in the MCBS.
This is what you can expect from the experience.
If you work at a long-term care facility that has been contacted to participate in the MCBS and you would like to learn more, click here.
WHAT IS THE MCBS?
Please watch this short video about what you can expect as a respondent.
Para Español:
- Coloca el cursor sobre el video y haz clic en el botón de pausa en la esquina inferior izquierda.
- Oprimir el “CC” abajo y a la derecha del video.
- Hacer clic en el icono de engranaje para seleccionar español de la lista de idiomas.
THE INTERVIEW PROCESS
OUTREACH
We will contact you by mail, by phone, or in-person to provide more information on the interview and schedule an appointment for the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey.
If you were contacted by mail, the letter you received introduces the survey and explains that an interviewer from NORC at the University of Chicago, on behalf of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), will be contacting you to schedule an appointment.
We'll Contact You Advance Letter_Billingual_sample
EXAMPLE LETTER
If you were contacted by phone or in-person, the interviewer will answer any questions or concerns you have about your interview and ask to schedule an appointment with you within the next few weeks at your convenience.
All interviewers undergo a thorough training and certification process by NORC. You will recognize our interviewers by their NORC identification badge.
EXAMPLE OF THE INTERVIEWER IDENTIFICATION BADGE
THE INTERVIEW
After you schedule your appointment, the interviewer will contact you at the scheduled appointment time to complete the interview. Most interviews are conducted over the phone. If we are unable to reach you by phone, your interviewer may visit you in-person to conduct the interview. Your health and safety remain our priority. We thank you in advance for your cooperation and commitment to this important study.
Your interviewer will ask you questions regarding your health care, prescription drug, and other health-related costs.
Because each individual’s circumstance is unique, interview times vary from person to person.
They may ask you to refer to the Interview Showcards, which contain answer categories to certain questions.
EXAMPLE INTERVIEW SHOWCARDS (English)
EXAMPLE INTERVIEW SHOWCARDS (Spanish)
EXAMPLE INTERVIEW SHOWCARDS (English)
EXAMPLE INTERVIEW SHOWCARDS (Spanish)
CONTINUING YOUR PARTICIPATION
An interviewer will contact you again in a few months to complete your next interview. We will speak with you three times per year over a period of four years.
If you are unable for any reason to participate in an interview, we can collect your responses from someone else that you designate, such as a family member or caretaker.
Christina H.
Field Interviewer
Christina H.
Field Interviewer
My favorite part about being a MCBS Field Interviewer is that I have the unique opportunity to build a working relationship with each participant for four years.
Completing interviews as collaborative partners with people who have Medicare is very motivating and interesting to me. We are helping improve the quality of care and identifying problems with coverage for the benefit of all Medicare beneficiaries. I truly appreciate the donation of participants’ time. I enjoy interviewing people from across the country and learning about their individual life experiences, cultures, and overall health and well-being. I am thankful for the patience and kindness of participants extended to me throughout the research period.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE INTERVIEW PROCESS
The interviewer is a representative from NORC at the University of Chicago who wears an official NORC ID badge with their picture, name, title, ID number and signature. On the back is a distinctive hologram and phone number to call to confirm the interviewer’s identity.
If you have any questions about the credibility of an interviewer or your survey participation, you can visit http://www.norc.org/verifyme, call 1-866-856-NORC, or email surveyhelp@norc.org. You may ask for an interviewer's employee ID number on their badge and verify they work at NORC using any of the resources above.
If you receive a letter in the mail or if an interviewer contacts you, you may schedule an appointment using the information provided. You can even schedule the appointment for in the evening or on a weekend. If you would like to contact us to schedule an appointment, please call us toll free at 1-844-777-2151.You may also visit our Contact Us page to request a representative contact you to schedule your appointment or answer questions you may have.
THE FACILITY INTERVIEW
Since 1991, we have also worked with long-term care facilities and their administrators to collect information about selected Medicare beneficiaries who are residing in facilities, ensuring that the MCBS represents the life situations of all people covered by Medicare.
The interview for facilities is conducted with facility staff, not the beneficiary.
Facility participation in the MCBS is compliant with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations.
Residents’ Medicare benefits will not be affected in any way, regardless of the answers that facilities provide, or by whether or not the facility chooses to participate.
OUTREACH
We will contact the facility’s administrator by mail, by phone, or in-person to provide more information on the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey.
If the facility was contacted by mail, the letter introduces the survey and explains that an interviewer from NORC at the University of Chicago, on behalf of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), will be contacting the facility to schedule an appointment.
If the facility was contacted by phone or in-person, the interviewer will speak with the facility’s staff to address any questions or concerns regarding this interview. Then, the interviewer will schedule an appointment with the facility within the next few weeks at their convenience.
MCBS Facility Advance Letter Sample
EXAMPLE FACILITY LETTER
THE INTERVIEW
After the appointment is scheduled, the interviewer will contact the facility administrator at the scheduled appointment time to complete the interview. Most interviews are conducted over the phone. Under certain circumstances, the interviewer may offer to conduct the interview in-person at the facility.
The facility interview focuses on the utilization and costs of the health care being received by the beneficiary, along with the characteristics of each facility.
The interviewer may refer to the Facility Interview Showcards, which contain answer categories to certain questions.
Much of the information can be abstracted directly from the resident’s medical chart and will only require a limited amount time from the facility staff.
EXAMPLE FACILITY INTERVIEW SHOWCARDS
CONTINUING
YOUR PARTICIPATION
We collect data for the MCBS three times per year over a four year period for the selected beneficiaries, so the facility may be contacted again for subsequent interviews for those beneficiaries.
Anthony V.
Field Interviewer
Anthony V.
Field Interviewer
The MCBS study is a voice of the people. As a Medicare beneficiary, it allows you to be heard, while it helps us understand the health issues and concerns that people have as they age. We are now celebrating Round 100 of interviewing. As an MCBS Field Interviewer, it’s gratifying knowing that we are helping to improve Medicare by listening to you.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE FACILITY INTERVIEW
If you work at a facility that has been contacted to participate in the MCBS and you would like to learn more, please email us at mcbs@norc.org or call our toll-free line at 1-844-777-2151 to speak with MCBS staff.