Att U - Advance Letters

Attachment U: NAMCS Advanced Letters
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Health Statistics
3311Toledo Road
Room 3409
Hyattsville, Maryland 20782

Full name
Additional Information
Street address
City, State, Zip

Date

NAMCS
Endorsing Organizations
American Academy of
Ambulatory Care Nursing
American Academy
of Dermatology
American Academy of
Family Physicians
American Academy
of Neurology
American Academy
of Ophthalmology
American Academy of
Orthopaedic Surgeons
American Academy of
Otolaryngology - Head
and Neck Surgery
American Academy
of Pediatrics
American Academy of
Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation
American College of
Cardiology
American Congress of
Obstetricians and
Gynecologists
American College
of Physicians
American College of
Preventive Medicine
American College
of Surgeons
American Osteopathic
Association
American Psychiatric
Association
American Society of
Clinical Oncology
American Society of
Plastic Surgeons

Dear (last name)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is
conducting the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS). This annual study, which has
been in the field since 1973, collects information about the large portion of ambulatory care provided by
physicians and mid-level providers throughout the United States. Research utilizing the NAMCS helps
to inform physicians, health care researchers, and policy makers about the changing characteristics of
ambulatory health care in this country. In addition to the regular sample of physicians, the NAMCS is
once again specifically sampling providers from a national sample of community health centers.
Your center has been selected and we are requesting a short interview (approximately 20 minutes) with
you to obtain information that would allow us to sample three physicians or mid-level providers in your
health center. From these providers we will collect (1) information from a sample of patient visits (e.g.,
demographics, diagnoses, services, and treatments); and (2) provider demographic and practice characteristics.
Many organizations and leaders in the health care community, including those providing the enclosed
letter of endorsement, have expressed their support and join me in urging your participation in this
meaningful study. Participation is voluntary, and you or your staff may refuse to answer any question or
may stop participating at any time without penalty or loss of benefits. The following are some key
points about the survey:
• Data collection for the NAMCS is authorized by Section 306 of the Public Health Service Act
(Title 42, U.S. Code, 242k).
• All information collected will be held in confidence according to Section 308(d) of the Public
Health Service Act (42, U.S. Code, 242m(d)) and the Confidential Information Protection and
Statistical Efficiency Act (Title 5 of PL 107-347). The selected providers’ name may be used by
NCHS for matching purposes to minimize the possibility of sampling in future years and to reduce
the paperwork burden on the provider. No patient names, social security numbers or addresses are
collected.
• This study conforms to the Privacy Rule as mandated by HIPAA, because disclosure of patient data
is permitted for public health purposes, and the NCHS Research Ethics Review Board has
approved NAMCS.
• U.S. Census Bureau employees, who administer the study, have taken an oath to abide by Title 13,
U.S. Code, Section 9, which requires them to keep all information about your practice and patients
confidential.
A representative of the Census Bureau, acting as our agent, will be calling you to schedule an
appointment regarding the details of your participation. If you have any questions regarding your
participation, please call a NAMCS representative at (800) 392-2862. Additional information on the
survey may be obtained by visiting the NAMCS participant Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/namcs.
We greatly appreciate your cooperation.

American Urological
Association

Sincerely,

Association of American
Medical Colleges
National Association of
Community Health
Centers

Enclosures

Edward J. Sondik, Ph.D.
Director

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Health Statistics
3311Toledo Road
Room 3409
Hyattsville, Maryland 20782

Full name
Additional Information
Street address
City, State, Zip

Date

NAMCS
Endorsing Organizations
American Academy of
Ambulatory Care Nursing
American Academy
of Dermatology
American Academy of
Family Physicians
American Academy
of Neurology
American Academy
of Ophthalmology
American Academy of
Orthopaedic Surgens
American Academy of
Otolaryngology - Head
and Neck Surgery
American Academy
of Pediatrics
American Academy of
Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation
American College of
Cardiology
American Congress of
Obstetricians and
Gynecologists
American College
of Physicians
American College of
Preventive Medicine
American College
of Surgeons
American Osteopathic
Association
American Psychiatric
Association
American Society of
Clinical Oncology
American Society of
Plastic Surgeons

Dear Dr. (last name)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is
conducting the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS). This annual study, which has
been in the field since 1973, collects information about the large portion of ambulatory care provided by
physicians and mid-level providers throughout the United States. Research utilizing the NAMCS helps
to inform physicians, health care researchers, and policy makers about the changing characteristics of
ambulatory health care in this country. The information that will be requested includes data about the
patient visit (e.g., demographics, diagnoses, services, and treatments), physician practice characteristics
(e.g., practice type), and the use of electronic medical records.
Many organizations and leaders in the health care community, including those providing the enclosed
letter of endorsement, have expressed their support and join me in urging your participation in this
meaningful study. You will be asked to complete a one-page questionnaire on a sample of about 30
patient encounters during a randomly assigned one-week reporting period. Additionally, there is a short
interview (approximately 30 minutes) with you about the nature of your practice. Participation is
voluntary, and you or your staff may refuse to answer any question or may stop participating at any time
without penalty or loss of benefits. The following are some key points about the survey:
• Data collection for the NAMCS is authorized by Section 306 of the Public Health Service Act
(Title 42, U.S. Code, 242k).
• All information collected will be held in the strictest confidence according to Section 308(d) of the
Public Health Service Act (42, U.S. Code, 242m(d)) and the Confidential Information Protection
and Statistical Efficiency Act (Title 5 of PL 107-347). This information will be used for statistical
purposes only. No patient names, social security numbers, or addresses are collected.
• This study conforms to the Privacy Rule as mandated by HIPAA, because disclosure of
patient data is permitted for public health purposes, the NCHS Research Ethics Review Board has
approved NAMCS.
• U.S. Census Bureau employees, who administer the study, have taken an oath to abide by Title 13,
U.S. Code, Section 9, which requires them to keep all information about your practice and patients
confidential.
A representative of the Census Bureau, acting as our agent, will be calling you to schedule an
appointment regarding the details of your participation. If you have any questions regarding your
participation, please call a NAMCS representative at (800) 392-2862. Additional information on the
survey may be obtained by visiting the NAMCS participant Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/namcs.
We greatly appreciate your cooperation.
Sincerely,

American Urological
Association
Association of American
Medical Colleges
National Association of
Community Health
Centers

Enclosures

Edward J. Sondik, Ph.D.
Director

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Health Statistics
3311Toledo Road
Room 3409
Hyattsville, Maryland 20782

Full name
Additional Information
Street address
City, State, Zip

Date

NAMCS
Endorsing Organizations
American Academy of
Ambulatory Care Nursing
American Academy
of Dermatology
American Academy of
Family Physicians
American Academy
of Neurology
American Academy
of Ophthalmology
American Academy of
Orthopaedic Surgens
American Academy of
Otolaryngology - Head
and Neck Surgery
American Academy
of Pediatrics
American Academy of
Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation
American College of
Cardiology
American Congress of
Obstetricians and
Gynecologists
American College
of Physicians
American College of
Preventive Medicine
American College
of Surgeons
American Osteopathic
Association
American Psychiatric
Association
American Society of
Clinical Oncology
American Society of
Plastic Surgeons

Dear Provider

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is
conducting the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS). This annual study, which has
been in the field since 1973, collects information about the large portion of ambulatory care provided by
physicians and mid-level providers throughout the United States. Research utilizing the NAMCS helps
to inform physicians, health care researchers, and policy makers about the changing characteristics of
ambulatory health care in this country. The information that will be requested includes data about the
patient visit (e.g., demographics, diagnoses, services, and treatments), physician practice characteristics
(e.g., practice type), and the use of electronic medical records.
Many organizations and leaders in the health care community, including those providing the enclosed
letter of endorsement, have expressed their support and join me in urging your participation in this
meaningful study. You will be asked to complete a one-page questionnaire on a sample of about 30
patient encounters during a randomly assigned one-week reporting period. Additionally, there is a short
interview (approximately 30 minutes) with you about the nature of your practice. Participation is
voluntary, and you or your staff may refuse to answer any question or may stop participating at any time
without penalty or loss of benefits. The following are some key points about the survey:
• Data collection for the NAMCS is authorized by Section 306 of the Public Health Service Act
(Title 42, U.S. Code, 242k).
• All information collected will be held in the strictest confidence according to Section 308(d) of the
Public Health Service Act (42, U.S. Code, 242m(d)) and the Confidential Information Protection
and Statistical Efficiency Act (Title 5 of PL 107-347). This information will be used for statistical
purposes only. No patient names, social security numbers, or addresses are collected.
• This study conforms to the Privacy Rule as mandated by HIPAA, because disclosure of
patient data is permitted for public health purposes, the NCHS Research Ethics Review Board has
approved NAMCS.
• U.S. Census Bureau employees, who administer the study, have taken an oath to abide by Title 13,
U.S. Code, Section 9, which requires them to keep all information about your practice and patients
confidential.
A representative of the Census Bureau, acting as our agent, will be calling you to schedule an
appointment regarding the details of your participation. If you have any questions regarding your
participation, please call a NAMCS representative at (800) 392-2862. Additional information on the
survey may be obtained by visiting the NAMCS participant Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/namcs.
We greatly appreciate your cooperation.
Sincerely,

American Urological
Association
Association of American
Medical Colleges
National Association of
Community Health
Centers

Enclosures

Edward J. Sondik, Ph.D.
Director