Community Authority Letter

July, 2019

Dear Community Authority:

On behalf of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NORC at the University of Chicago is undertaking an important national study designed to provide information on the health care experiences of Medicare eligible persons across America. We are interviewing Medicare beneficiaries in selected areas throughout the United States, including in your neighborhood. This research project, called the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS), collects urgently-needed information about the health problems of people on Medicare, the types of medical care they receive, and the cost and affordability of the care and medicine they need. This information will be used to analyze health care policy issues and to improve planning of health care services.

Some beneficiaries in your area have been selected as part of a national random sample for the MCBS, and NORC interviewers will contact selected persons in your community starting in July. Interviewers will visit pre-selected households, explain the study to an adult, and, after informed consent has been obtained, interview selected individuals. Since residents are frequently concerned about security and safety, we wanted to inform your organization of this research project and alert you that our interviewers will be present in your community. On other national research projects, we have found that some people selected to be interviewed have called organizations such as yours for information about our presence.

Be assured that participation in this study by your residents is completely voluntary and that our interviewers will adhere to the strictest professional standards. Our interviewers will be wearing photo identification badges which state that they are NORC representatives. The interviewers are trained professionals who have signed legally binding pledges of confidentiality.

NORC is one of the oldest and most prestigious social survey research organizations in the nation. We have been conducting nationwide surveys for over 70 years, during which we have earned a reputation for research that is scientifically sound and in the public interest.

If you have any questions or would like more information on the study or NORC, please call me toll-free at 1-800-387-0258 or e-mail me at [email protected]. You can also visit the MCBS respondent website at www.mcbs.norc.org to learn more.

Sincerely,

Ella Kemp

MCBS Field Production Manager

NORC Senior Field Manager

OMB No. 0938-0568

Expires 8 /312023