Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS):(CMS Number CMS-P-0015A)

2026 MCBS Community Questionnaire

Variable Name

MR Screen Name

Question Type

SCQ-SATISFACTION WITH CARE

Question Text/Description

Code List

Routing

SATISFACTION WITH CARE QUESTIONNAIRE SPECIFICATIONS
CRITERIA
INTTYPE=C001, C002, C003, C004, C005, C006
SPALIVE=1
SEASON=FALL
SPPROXY=SP or PROXY until BOX PA1 SC2
Other: N/A
PLACEMENT
Administer after NAQ.

SHOW CARD SC1

MCQUALTY

SC1

code 1

(01) VERY SATISFIED
(02) SATISFIED
We’re interested in how you feel about the health care [you have/(SP) has] received [over the past year/since
(03) DISSATISFIED
(TODAY'S DATE - 12 MONTHS, MONTH AND YEAR)] from doctors and hospitals. Please tell me how satisfied or
(04) VERY DISSATISFIED
dissatisfied you have been with the following:
(05) NOT APPLICABLE
(-8) Don't Know
The overall quality of the health care [you have /(SP) has] received [over the past year/since (TODAY'S DATE - 12
(-9) Refused
MONTHS)]. Have you been very satisfied, satisfied, dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?

SC2 - MCAVAIL

(01) VERY SATISFIED
(02) SATISFIED
(03) DISSATISFIED
(04) VERY DISSATISFIED
(05) NOT APPLICABLE
(-8) Don't Know
(-9) Refused

SC3 - MCEASE

(01) VERY SATISFIED
(02) SATISFIED
(03) DISSATISFIED
(04) VERY DISSATISFIED
(05) NOT APPLICABLE
(-8) Don't Know
(-9) Refused

SC4 - MCCOSTS

(01) VERY SATISFIED
(02) SATISFIED
(03) DISSATISFIED
(04) VERY DISSATISFIED
(05) NOT APPLICABLE
(-8) Don't Know
(-9) Refused

SC5 - MCINFO SC7-MCCONCRN

(01) VERY SATISFIED
(02) SATISFIED
(03) DISSATISFIED
(04) VERY DISSATISFIED
(05) NOT APPLICABLE
(-8) Don't Know
(-9) Refused

SC7-MCCONCRN

SHOW CARD SC1
MCAVAIL

SC2

code 1

[Please tell me how satisfied or dissatisfied you have been with . . .]
The availability of health care at night and on weekends.

SHOW CARD SC1
MCEASE

SC3

code 1

[Please tell me how satisfied or dissatisfied you have been with . . .]
The ease and convenience of getting to a doctor or other health professional from where [you/(SP)] [live/lives].

SHOW CARD SC1
MCCOSTS

SC4

code 1

[Please tell me how satisfied or dissatisfied you have been with . . .]
The out-of-pocket costs [you/(SP)] paid for health care.

SHOW CARD SC1
MCINFO

SC5

code 1

[Please tell me how satisfied or dissatisfied you have been with . . .]
The information given to [you/you or (SP)] about what was wrong with [you/(SP)].

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2026 MCBS Community Questionnaire

Variable Name

MR Screen Name

Question Type

SCQ-SATISFACTION WITH CARE

Question Text/Description

SHOW CARD SC1
MCCONCRN

SC7

code 1

[Please tell me how satisfied or dissatisfied you have been with . . .]
The concern of doctors or other health professionals for [your/(SP’s)] overall health rather than just for an isolated
symptom or disease.

MCSAMLOC

SC8

code 1

SHOW CARD SC1
[Please tell me how satisfied or dissatisfied you have been with . . .]
Getting all [your/(SP’s)] health care needs taken care of at the same location.

MCSPECAR

SC8A

code 1

SHOW CARD SC1
[Please tell me how satisfied or dissatisfied you have been with . . .]
The availability of care by specialists when [you/(SP)] [feel/feels] [you/(SP)] [need/needs] it.

SHOW CARD SC1
MCANSWER

SC8B

code 1

[Please tell me how satisfied or dissatisfied you have been with . . .]
The ease of obtaining answers to questions about [your/(SP’s)] treatment or prescriptions.

MDISSFY

MDISSFY

verbatim text

Please think about all of the health care services [you/(SP)] [receive/receives], including services provided by
doctors or other health professionals, hospitals and pharmacies.
What things, if anything, about the health care services [you/(SP)] [receive/receives] are you dissatisfied with?

MCDISVB

MCDISVB

verbatim text

[Please think about all of the health care services [you/(SP)] [receive/receives], including services provided by
doctors or other health professionals, hospitals and pharmacies.

Code List

Routing

(01) VERY SATISFIED
(02) SATISFIED
(03) DISSATISFIED
(04) VERY DISSATISFIED
(05) NOT APPLICABLE
(-8) Don't Know
(-9) Refused

SC8 - MCSAMLOC

(01) VERY SATISFIED
(02) SATISFIED
(03) DISSATISFIED
(04) VERY DISSATISFIED
(05) NOT APPLICABLE
(-8) Don't Know
(-9) Refused

SC8A - MCSPECAR

(01) VERY SATISFIED
(02) SATISFIED
(03) DISSATISFIED
(04) VERY DISSATISFIED
(05) NOT APPLICABLE
(-8) Don't Know
(-9) Refused

SC8B - MCANSWER

(01) VERY SATISFIED
(02) SATISFIED
(03) DISSATISFIED
(04) VERY DISSATISFIED
(05) NOT APPLICABLE
(-8) Don't Know
(-9) Refused

SC9-MDISSFY

(01) RESPONDENT IS NOT DISSATISFIED WITH
ANYTHING
(91) RESPONDENT IS DISSATISFIED (RECORD
VERBATIM IN THE NEXT SCREEN)
(-8) Don't Know
(-9) Refused

(01) BOX SC1
(91) SC9 - MCDISVB
(-8) BOX SC1
(-9) BOX SC1

(01) continuous answer

BOX SC1

(01) TRUE
(02) FALSE
(-8) Don't Know
(-9) Refused

SC10A - MCAVOID SC10A - SCDRSOON

What things, if anything, about the health care services [you/(SP)] [receive/receives] are you dissatisfied with?]

If INTTYPE in (C003), GO TO SCWORRY.
ELSE, GO TO BOX SCEND.

BOX SC1

Please tell me whether each of the following statements is true or false.
MCWORRY
SCWORRY

SC10A

list

[You/(SP)] [worry/worries] about [your/(SP)'s] health more than other people [your/(SP)'s] age.
[Is this statement true or false?]

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2026 MCBS Community Questionnaire

Variable Name

MR Screen Name

Question Type

MCAVOID

SC10A

list

MCSICK

SC10A

list

MCDRSOON
SCDRSOON

SC10A

list

BOX PA1 SC2

PAINTRO
SCINTRO

PAINSTRC
SCINSTRC

PAMEDREC
SCMEDREC

PACHGDRS
SCCHGDRS

PAINTRO
SCINTRO

PA3 SCINSTRC

PA4 SCMEDREC

PA5 SCCHGDRS

SCQ-SATISFACTION WITH CARE

Question Text/Description

[Please tell me whether each of the following statements is true or false.]
[You/(SP)] will do just about anything to avoid going to the doctor.

[Please tell me whether each of the following statements is true or false.]
When [you/(SP)] [are/is] sick, [you/(SP)] [try/tries] to keep it to [yourself/themselves].

Code List

Routing

(01) TRUE
(02) FALSE
(-8) Don't Know
(-9) Refused

SC10A - MCSICK

(01) TRUE
(02) FALSE
(-8) Don't Know
(-9) Refused

SC10A - MCDRSOON

(01) TRUE
(02) FALSE
(-8) Don't Know
Usually, [you/(SP)] [go/goes] to the doctor or other health professional as soon as [you/(SP)] [start/starts] to feel bad.
(-9) Refused
[Please tell me whether each of the following statements is true or false.]

BOX PA1 SC2

IF IN4-SPPROXY=1/SP then go to PAINTRO- PAINTRO SCINTRO. ELSE GO TO BOX SCEND

Now I have some questions about how you make health care decisions. Answers to questions like these will help
Medicare better understand how people use medical services.

(01) CONTINUE
(-7) Empty

PA3 - PAINSTRC SCINSTRC

code 1

SHOW CARD SC2
Doctors often give instructions about how you should care for yourself at home, like changing a bandage, taking
medicines on schedule, or applying ice packs. How confident are you that you can follow instructions to care for
yourself at home?

(01) VERY CONFIDENT
(02) CONFIDENT
(03) SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT
(04) NOT AT ALL CONFIDENT
(-8) Don't Know
(-9) Refused

PA4 - PAMEDREC SCMEDREC

code 1

SHOW CARD SC2
Doctors also often give instructions about changing your habits or lifestyle, such as changing your diet, stopping
smoking, or getting regular exercise. How confident are you that you can follow this kind of instruction, to change
your habits or lifestyle?

(01) VERY CONFIDENT
(02) CONFIDENT
(03) SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT
(04) NOT AT ALL CONFIDENT
(-8) Don't Know
(-9) Refused

PA5 - PACHGDRS SCCHGDRS

(01) VERY LIKELY
(02) LIKELY
(03) UNLIKELY
(04) VERY UNLIKELY
(-8) Don't Know
(-9) Refused

PA6-PADISAGR SCDISAGR

no entry

code 1

Please keep in mind that there are no right or wrong answers to these questions. Your opinions and experiences
are important to us.

SHOW CARD SC3
How likely are you to change doctors or other health professionals if you are dissatisfied with the way you and your
doctor or other health professional communicate?
[Would you say very likely, likely, unlikely, or very unlikely?]

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2026 MCBS Community Questionnaire

Variable Name

PADISAGR
SCDISAGR

MR Screen Name

PA6 SCDISAGR

Question Type

code 1

SCQ-SATISFACTION WITH CARE

Question Text/Description

Code List

Routing

SHOW CARD SC3
How likely are you to tell your doctor or other health professional when you disagree with them?

(01) VERY LIKELY
(02) LIKELY
(03) UNLIKELY
(04) VERY UNLIKELY
(-8) Don't Know
(-9) Refused

PA10-PARXINFO SCRXINFO

(01) ALWAYS
(02) USUALLY
(03) SOMETIMES
(04) NEVER
(-8) Don't Know
(-9) Refused

PA11-PADRQUEX SCDRQUEX

(01) ALWAYS
(02) USUALLY
(03) SOMETIMES
(04) NEVER
(-8) Don't Know
(-9) Refused

PA12-PAANSWR SCANSWR

(01) ALWAYS
(02) USUALLY
(03) SOMETIMES
(04) NEVER
(-8) Don't Know
(-9) Refused

PA13-PALISTRX SCLISTRX

(01) ALWAYS
(02) USUALLY
(03) SOMETIMES
(04) NEVER
(05) NOT APPLICABLE
(-8) Don't Know
(-9) Refused

PA14-PATRSLT SCTRSLT

(01) ALWAYS
(02) USUALLY
(03) SOMETIMES
(04) NEVER
(-8) Don't Know
(-9) Refused

PA15-PAOPTION SCOPTION

(01) ALWAYS
(02) USUALLY
(03) SOMETIMES
(04) NEVER
(-8) Don't Know
(-9) Refused

PA21-PADVICE SCADVICE

SHOW CARD SC4
PARXINFO
SCRXINFO

PA10 SCRXINFO

code 1

These next questions are about practices sometimes associated with receiving medical care. Please tell me if you
always, usually, sometimes, or never do the following:
Do you always, usually, sometimes, or never read information about a new prescription, such as side effects and
precautions?

PADRQUEX
SCDRQUEX

PAANSWR
SCANSWR

PALISTRX
SCLISTRX

PATRSLT
SCTRSLT

PAOPTION
SCOPTION

PA11 SCDRQUEX

code 1

SHOW CARD SC4
Do you always, usually, sometimes, or never...
Bring with you to your doctor or other health professional visits a list of questions or concerns you want to cover?

PA12 SCANSWR

PA13 SCLISTRX

code 1

code 1

SHOW CARD SC4
[Do you always, usually, sometimes, or never...]
Leave your doctor or other health professional's office feeling that all of your concerns or questions have been fully
answered?

SHOW CARD SC4
[Do you always, usually, sometimes, or never...]
Take a list of all of your prescribed medicines to your doctor or other health professional visits?

PA14 SCTRSLT

PA15 SCOPTION

code 1

code 1

SHOW CARD SC4
[Do you always, usually, sometimes, or never...]
Make sure you understand the results of any medical test or procedure such as an x-ray, blood test, or EKG for
heart conditions?

SHOW CARD SC4
[Do you always, usually, sometimes, or never...]
Talk with your doctor or other health professional about your options if you need tests, follow-up care, or a referral
for care by a medical specialist?

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2026 MCBS Community Questionnaire

Variable Name

PADVICE
SCADVICE

MR Screen Name

PA21 SCDVICE

Question Type

code 1

SCQ-SATISFACTION WITH CARE

Question Text/Description

SHOW CARD SC4
[Do you always, usually, sometimes, or never...]
Contact your doctor or other health professional's office to get medical advice when you need it.

BOX SCEND

routing

Code List

Routing

(01) ALWAYS
(02) USUALLY
(03) SOMETIMES
(04) NEVER
(-8) Don't Know
(-9) Refused

BOX SCEND

GO TO CMQ.

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