2018RespondentNewsletterEnglish508

Winter
2018
IN THIS
ISSUE:
Health in Any
Weather

New Medicare Cards
are coming soon

Eating Healthy Tips
and Tricks

Word Search

What is
the MCBS?
The Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey
(MCBS) is a continuous survey of people who
receive Medicare benefits. It includes individuals
living in the community or in long-term care
facilities that are representative of the entire
population of those receiving Medicare benefits.
The survey’s main goal is to determine all costs
associated with health care services provided
to people with Medicare. MCBS is the only
comprehensive source of information on the health
status, health insurance coverage, health care use
and expenditures of the Medicare population.
It is sponsored by the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services (CMS).
You are receiving this newsletter because as a
MCBS respondent, you are an important supporter
of the MCBS. The success of the survey depends
upon the cooperation of every MCBS participant!
We welcome your feedback on this newsletter and
hope you find this issue informative.

About NORC
NORC is an independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to conduct high
quality social science research in the public interest. NORC has offices in Chicago, IL;
Bethesda, MD; Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; and San Francisco, CA. In addition, we have
interviewers across the nation working on the MCBS. NORC is deeply committed to
protecting the privacy of all respondents’ personal information; therefore, all information
about participants will be kept private and confidential as required by law. To learn more
about NORC or reach the MCBS team, please call NORC toll-free number 877-389-3429 or
e-mail NORC at [email protected]. You can also visit the website: http://www.mcbs.norc.org.

1

Health in Any Weather
Your health can be affected by the weather, largely due to the temperature and activities
associated with each season. See below for health tips to keep in mind whatever the weather is like where
you live.1

WINTER
»

»

Older adults are
not necessarily
more likely to fall during
the winter months.
However, a fall during this
time period is more likely
to cause a hip break, as the
rate of hip fractures is 12%
higher in colder weather
months versus the rest of
the year.
Make sure to keep an
eye out for anything that
could cause trips or slips
in colder weather. Wearing
socks or shoes with grips
can also help ensure solid
footing.

SPRING

SUMMER

»

Once the weather
turns warmer,
everyone is ready to get
moving but might forget
that their bodies may be out
of conditioning. Overdoing
physical activity results in
injuries related to overuse and
strain, such as pulled muscles
and sprained ankles.

»

Something as simple as bending
over to tend to a plant can result
in an injury if you don’t have
proper form. Remember to bend
at the knees rather than the
waist and always use a soft pad
when kneeling on the hard floor
or ground.

»

Extreme
heat can be
especially dangerous
for older adults, as
medications, reduced
mobility, high
blood pressure, and
disabilities are factors
that may increase the
risk for heat exhaustion
and heat stroke.

»

Stay cool in air
conditioning when
possible and drink more
fluids than usual to
keep yourself hydrated
when heat hits your
area.

New Medicare Cards are Coming Soon!
The text below is an excerpt from a blog post on
the CMS website written by Seema Verma, CMS
Administrator.2 You can find the full text here:
https://blog.cms.gov/2017/09/14/new-medicarecards-are-coming-soon/
As you may have heard, or perhaps you’ve seen a
recent TV commercial, the Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services will soon be issuing every
Medicare beneficiary a new Medicare Card,
without Social Security Numbers, to prevent fraud,
fight identity theft, and keep taxpayer dollars safe,
2

and to help ensure that we always put the needs of
patients first.
To help combat this, we’ll be sending all Medicare
beneficiaries a new card with a unique, randomlyassigned Medicare number. It will consist of
eleven characters, a combination of numbers and
uppercase letters. This new number will replace the
Social Security-based number currently used on
all Medicare cards, and it’s designed to protect the
personal information of Medicare beneficiaries.

We’ll begin mailing the newly designed Medicare
cards in April 2018, and we’ll replace all cards
by April 2019. You don’t need to do anything
and you can start using your new card as soon as
you get it. We want to make this process as easy

as possible for everyone involved. Above all, we
want to ensure that people with Medicare and
healthcare providers know about these changes
well in advance and have the information needed
to ensure an easy transition to the new card.

Eating Healthy Tips and Tricks
The New Year is a great time to renew your commitment to healthy living. Here are some
healthy food tips for 2018 and beyond related to fiber intake and other nutrients you need.
»

»

»

The average adult only eats 15 grams of
fiber per day but according to the Institute
of Medicine, women are recommended to
consume 25 grams of fiber per day, and men are
recommended to consume 38 grams of fiber per
day3.
Eating a variety of plant-based foods with
naturally occurring fiber, such as vegetables,
beans, fruit, whole grains and nuts is the best
way to get the fiber you need3.
Replacing refined grains, such as white flour,
bread, pasta, or rice with whole grains, such as

oatmeal or whole wheat flour, is a great way to
boost the amount of fiber in your diet as well3.
»

Calcium is important to keep bones strong and
can be found in milk, yogurt, hard cheeses,
fortified cereals, and kale. Men 51-70 years old
need 1000 milligrams per day. Women 51+ and
Men 71+ years old need 1200 milligrams per
day4.

»

Vitamin B12 plays an essential role in red blood
cell formation and is found in fish, poultry,
meat, dairy products, and fortified cereals. All
adults need at least 2.4 micrograms per day4.

Craving something filling but healthy to warm you up in the morning?
This Banana Walnut Oatmeal is just the thing you need!
INGREDIENTS
»

1/3 cup milk (nonfat or any non-dairy milk
works)

DIRECTIONS
1 In a small saucepan, combine milk, salt, and

water. Heat on medium until steaming hot but
not boiling.

»

Dash of salt

»

1/3 cup water

2 Add oats and stir to cook until creamy, about 2

»

1/2 cup oats (quick cooking or old
fashioned)

3 If using old fashioned oats, you will need to

»

1 banana, mashed

»

1/2 tablespoon maple syrup or honey, if
desired

»

1 tablespoon walnuts, chopped

minutes.

cook for 5-10 minutes.

4 Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the

mashed banana and sweetener. Pour into a bowl,
top with walnuts, and serve.5

3

Word Search
Words to find:

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J

P O L

C Y X

I

O H Y

R A M O R

F W J

N C O P

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P

F U E

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HEALTH

RESPONDENT

MCBS

CALCIUM

A W I

SURVEY

VITAMIN

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MEDICARE

CMS

F

Z A U R L

INSURANCE

NORC

WINTER
POLICY
OATMEAL

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G V

E D Q H B T G F
N T

E R

S H

T A M
L

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M C B

P Y D Y
S W

C R U R B U O W E V Q O T
E R R E A U K C M

G G R A Z K H V Q X L
E

J

H E

E D Q V Z

FIBER

U T

S

CARDS

Y H U M

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R R E

P O N D E N T K

N O L U L

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T C

F V B
J

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W L

S Q

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D X

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S G W C N L Y

C W H P Y A B A
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A A

E D X C A R D S O
I

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C L C Y U R

N S U R A N C E

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Meet the Field Interviewer: Willene Miles
My home is in a small town in Georgia known as Tifton. Yes, I am definitely a southern
lady! I am delighted to say I have worked on the MCBS since 2013 as well as various
other survey projects in the past. MCBS has been the most rewarding work, allowing me
to meet an array of people from all walks of life. My MCBS work has taken me from
the low country of Louisiana to the northeast with six feet of snow to the heart of the
Midwest. Everywhere I go, I meet remarkable respondents. I am continually humbled
by the dedication and openness MCBS respondents show when sharing their health care
matters.
The data these respondents provide is helping policy makers improve healthcare for millions of Americans in
this country. Each of my respondents’ needs and experiences are unique, and all respondents’ opinions are
essential in order to get a complete picture of the Medicare population. I love what I do and enjoy meeting with
respondents every day. I quite often remind myself of this quote, “Choose a job you love, and you will never
have to work a day in your life.”

4

References:
1. https://www.htstherapy.com/seasonal-impact-on-older-adults-health/
2. https://blog.cms.gov/2017/09/14/new-medicare-cards-are-coming-soon/
3. “Dietary, Functional, and Total Fiber.” Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids,
Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids (Macronutrients), Institute of Medicine, 2002/2005, pp. 339–421, http://nap.
edu/10490.
4. http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/guide/vitamins-and-minerals-good-food-sources#1
5. https://whatscooking.fns.usda.gov/recipes/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap/banana-walnut-oatmeal