Attachment 9 IDEAL CMS Mailing Materials

Attachment 9: IDEAL CMS Mailing Materials
Westat received approval from the CMS to send study materials to beneficiaries in order to invite them
to call in and be screened for IDEAL. Under the CMS process, the CMS Beneficiary Contact Service first
sends a letter of notification alerting recipients that they have be selected to receive a study mailing and
enabling them to opt out of receiving the mailing (Attachment 9a). Those who do not opt out within
three weeks are sent a study mailing comprising the following: a cover letter (Attachment 9b), insert
summarizing the IDEAL eligibility criteria (“Who can participate?”) (Attachment 9c), and Return Mail
Postcard (Attachment 9d).

[CMS Letterhead]

Dear :
Sometimes researchers want people with Medicare to participate in research studies. These studies often
help doctors and researchers find better ways to operate the Medicare program, or prevent, diagnose, or
treat specific diseases. You have the opportunity to participate in one of these studies.
You do not have to take part in this study. Your decision to take part or not to take part in this
study will have no affect on your Medicare benefits. All information you provide is protected by
the Privacy Act of 1974 (U.S.C. 552a).
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administers the Medicare program. CMS is
cooperating with the National Institute on Aging regarding a study to learn more about the health care
experiences and needs of older people. This study involves Medicare beneficiaries because they are in
the age range needed for this research. You are one of approximately 44 million Americans with health
insurance under the Medicare program. You are eligible to participate in this study because you are of
the age to have Medicare coverage.
If you do not want to participate in the study, mark the enclosed reply form that you do not want to be
contacted and mail it back in the enclosed postage paid envelope. Medicare will make sure that if you do
not want to participate in the study your name will be removed from the list. You can also call Todd
Rockwood at Beneficiary Contact Services at the University of Minnesota (1-800-874-8636) if you have
any questions about the study that may help you decide if you want to participate. If you want to talk to
Medicare directly about this letter, please call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). You can speak to a
Customer Service Representative in English or Spanish. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
If the Beneficiary Contact Services at the University of Minnesota does not hear from you within 3
weeks from the date of this letter, then research staff from the National Institute on Aging will contact
you about participating in the study. The National Institute on Aging will mail you a letter introducing
the study and inviting you to call the study number or return the reply postcard to learn more about the
study. When you receive the letter and reply postcard in the mail, you can still decide whether to take
part in the study. If you want to take part in the study you should call or mail the completed reply
postcard back to the National Institute on Aging. You will be contacted by telephone by the National
Institute on Aging if you return a reply postcard, but you do not have to answer their questions. When
you are called, you can still decide whether or not to take part in the study.
Sincerely,

Walter Stone
CMS Privacy Officer

[First Name] [Last Name]
[Address 1]
[City] [ST] [Zipcode]
Dear [Title]. [Last Name]
The National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health, is sponsoring a study
called the Insight into Determinants of Exceptional Aging and Longevity (IDEAL) Study. The
purpose of IDEAL is to find out what is unique about people who live to be 80, 90 and older
without significant physical or cognitive health problems. Identifying the differences between
people who age in extraordinarily good health and other people of the same age, may lead to
discoveries that will improve health outcomes as we get older.
In order to unlock the secrets of “exceptional” aging, IDEAL is looking for healthy, active seniors,
age 80 and older. Enclosed, is a fact sheet that provides further details about the study. Please
look at the “Who Can Participate?” sheet in this package to determine whether you might be
eligible. Unlike research projects involving illnesses, the IDEAL study is looking at wellness.
There are no drugs or experimental procedures involved. If you qualify to be in IDEAL, every
year you will receive a comprehensive physical exam, including tests of strength, stamina, and
mental sharpness.
Participation in this study is voluntary and there are no penalties for not participating. You may
withdraw from the study at any time. Participation will not influence your relationship with any
federal program such as Social Security or Medicare. All of the information you provide will be
kept confidential as required by the law and will not be disclosed to anyone but the researchers
conducting this study. No names or other identifying information will appear in any report of
the study. The information will be combined for all study participants and reported as
statistical summaries.
If you have reviewed the enclosed information and think you may be eligible for this important
health study, please return the enclosed postage-paid reply card, or call toll-free to speak to a
study coordinator at 1-855-80 IDEAL (1-855-804-3325). If you have questions, feel free to
contact us toll-free at our toll-free number or email us at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Luigi Ferrucci, MD, PhD
Director and Principal Investigator
Insight into the Determinants of Exceptional Aging and Longevity (IDEAL)
National Institute on Aging
National Institutes of Health

[IDEAL Logo]

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
You may be eligible to participate in IDEAL if:
 You are 80 years or older
 You can walk a quarter mile without pain or shortness of breath
 You have no severe memory or cognitive issues
 You have no major medical conditions, such as:
− Diabetes
− Heart disease (heart attack, stents, or heart surgeries)
− Chronic neurologic, gastrointestinal, kidney, liver, or
musculoskeletal diseases or disorders
− Cancer (active or recent history)
− TIA or stroke
− Mental illness
 You have no medical conditions that require chronic drug
treatment (NOTE: Drugs to treat high blood pressure,
cholesterol, and osteoporosis are OK)
Eligibility for IDEAL is determined with a preliminary telephone
interview, followed by a physical exam and cognitive assessment
at MedStar Harbor Hospital in Baltimore (transportation provided).
For more information or to apply to IDEAL,
Call toll-free at 1-855 80 IDEAL (1-855-804-3325).

IDEAL CMS MAILING
POSTCARD CONTENT

FRONT
Dear Friend:
You have been invited to be part of the Insight into
Determinants of Exceptional Aging and Longevity
(IDEAL) Study – an important health study that will observe
the aging process and identify the secrets of aging well.
Identifying the differences between people who age in
extraordinarily good health and other people of the same age
may lead to discoveries to improve health outcomes as we
get older.
Thank you for your interest,

Luigi Ferrucci, MD, PhD
Principal Investigator
BACK
If you think you may be eligible for IDEAL and are interested
in this important health study, please complete and mail back
this card. No postage is needed. We will call you to answer
any questions you may have.

RETURNING THIS CARD WILL NOT OBLIGATE YOU IN ANY
WAY.
Please print your name, address, and the telephone number
where you can be reached in the coming year.
NAME ______________________________________________________________
STREET ____________________________________________________________
CITY _____________________________ STATE ___________ ZIP__________
HOME PHONE __________________ CELL PHONE __________________
BEST TIME TO CALL __________________ AM __________________ PM