Respondent Newsletter

What’s Inside:
Medicare in the News
Page 2
MCBS Data in Action
Page 2
Chicken Cutlets with
Creamy Tomato Sauce
Page 3
MCBS Word Search
Puzzle
Page 3
How Our Pets Support Us
Page 4
Meet the Field Interviewer:
Karen Hoffman
Page 4

FALL | 2025

Hello! Thank you for your participation in the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey. We appreciate the time and effort
you give to this important research. This edition of the newsletter contains updates on health care pricing, information
on companion animals, and a delicious chicken cutlet recipe!

What is the MCBS
The Medicare Current Beneficiary
Survey, or MCBS, is an ongoing survey
of people with Medicare. This survey
is designed to represent the entire
population of individuals currently
enrolled in Medicare, including people
living in a community setting or in long
term care facilities. The survey’s main
goal is to help policymakers improve
Medicare by providing a wealth of
information about you, the beneficiary,

and your overall health care experience.
We do this by recording costs associated
with health care services, as well
as information on topics including
satisfaction with care, knowledge of
the Medicare program, and ease of
accessing needed health care. The
MCBS is sponsored by the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
and is conducted by NORC at the
University of Chicago.

About NORC
NORC at the University of Chicago is an objective, nonpartisan, research organization. NORC conducts research
and analysis that decision-makers trust, providing high quality insights for more than eight decades. We have
professional interviewers across the nation working on the MCBS. As a professional research organization, NORC
is deeply committed to protecting the privacy of all respondents’ personal information; the answers you provide
will be kept private to the extent permitted by law, as prescribed by the Federal Privacy Act of 1974.
To learn more about NORC or to contact the MCBS team please:
Call NORC toll-free at
1-844-777-2151

Email us at
[email protected]

Visit us at
mcbs.norc.org &
cms.gov/MCBS

Medicare in the News 1
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you may be familiar with prior
authorization – if not, prior authorization is the process of getting Medicare’s
approval for a doctor to provide certain medications or procedures. This
summer, leadership from Medicare and the Department of Health and Human
Services discussed improvements to the prior authorization system with twelve
insurance companies. Medicare Advantage insurers such as Aetna, Blue Cross
Blue Shield, and UnitedHealthcare have agreed to new rules that will make the
prior authorization system easier to navigate. These companies have pledged to
lower the number of services that require prior authorization, as well as increase
transparency about decisions and appeals. For example – if a patient is denied coverage for a medical procedure, the
insurers will make sure that the doctor receives enough information about the denial to make a plan with the patient.
These changes aim to simplify the prior authorization process for patients, providers, and insurance companies alike.
You can learn more about these improvements by reading the official announcement (https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/
kennedy-oz-cms-secure-healthcare-industry-pledge-to-fix-prior-authorization-system.html).

MCBS Data in Action 2
In today’s digital age, many people use the Internet to call friends or family, read the news, or make appointments with
their doctor. Your participation in the MCBS helps reveal larger trends that policymakers study to improve healthcare
quality and access. Medicare used MCBS data from 2023 to learn how internet access and usage differs between people
living in cities versus rural areas. This research helps Medicare improve healthcare services for all beneficiaries. The
results show that 91% of Medicare enrollees
in urban metropolitan areas have Internet
Internet Access and Frequency of Use
access, compared to 86% of Medicare
enrollees in rural, non-metropolitan areas.
Reside in Metropolitan Area
Reside in Non-metropolitan Area
They are also more likely to use the Internet
91% have internet access
86% have internet access
daily, with 52% of metropolitan areas and
42% of those in rural areas logging on every
42% use internet daily
52% use internet daily
day. Almost a third of Medicare enrollees in
metropolitan areas used the Internet to fill a
7% don’t use internet at all
10% don’t use internet at all
prescription within the last twelve months.
If you’d like to learn more, please visit
the MCBS Interactives website (mcbsinteractives.norc.org/) to explore these
data! You can also read the MCBS 2024
Bibliography (cms.gov/data-research/
research/medicare-current-beneficiarysurvey/bibliography/2024) to see what
researchers learned from beneficiaries
last year. Finally, take a look at the new
MCBS infographic (https://www.cms.
gov/files/document/medicare-currentbeneficiary-survey-overview-infographic.
pdf) to get a brief overview of the survey.

Type of Internet Use
Participated in Video or
Voice Calls Over the Internet
in the Last Year

Used the Internet to
Fill a Prescription in
the Last Year

Metro

Non-metro

Metro

Non-metro

49%

37%

32%

22%

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), 2023 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey
(MCBS) Internet Access and Use Among Medicare Beneficiaries Living in the Community Early Public Use
File (PUF).

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Chicken Cutlets with Creamy Tomato Sauce 3
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
This year’s recipe is a modern classic: chicken cutlets paired with a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce. Also known as
“Marry Me Chicken,” this delicious dinner is a breeze to make on busy weeknights.

Ingredients:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

1 pound chicken cutlets (chicken thighs are a cheaper, juicier option)
salt
ground black pepper
½ cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, plus 1 tablespoon oil from the jar
½ cup finely chopped shallots (can substitute with onion)
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 cups spinach (optional)
½ cup dry white wine (can substitute with chicken or vegetable broth, even pasta water if you
serve with pasta!)
• ½ cup heavy cream (can substitute with evaporated milk, half-and half, or non-dairy cream)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Instructions:

1. Season your chicken with salt and pepper, around ¼ to ½ teaspoon of each.
2. Heat sun-dried tomato oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
3. Add the chicken and cook, turning once, until browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 165°F,
about 6 minutes total.
4. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
5. Add sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and shallots to the pan. Cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes.
6. Increase heat to medium high and add wine. Stir, scraping up any browned bits, until the liquid has mostly evaporated, about 2 minutes.
7. Reduce heat to medium low and stir in cream, spinach (optional), and any accumulated juices from the chicken and season with salt and
pepper to taste. Simmer for 2 minutes.
8. Return the chicken to the pan and turn to coat with the sauce. Serve the chicken topped with the sauce and parsley. Serve with
carbohydrate of choice—rice, pasta, bread, potatoes—the world is your oyster!

MCBS Word Search Puzzle

Instructions: Can you spot these words throughout the newsletter? They can go down, right, and diagonally (but not
backwards) – happy hunting!

Word Bank
Prescription, transparent,
therapeutic, companion,
mountains, estimate,
internet, chicken,
sparky, tomato

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How Our Pets Support Us 4, 5
Companion animals, such as dogs, cats, and even rabbits, play a significant role in
supporting patients of all kinds, emotionally and psychologically. Studies have shown that
spending time with pets can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve overall
well-being. For cancer patients, pets offer comfort during difficult treatments and provide a
sense of purpose through daily care routines. This “protective relationship” is characterized
by unconditional positive attachments, emotional support, and a sense of security. Patients
who feel securely attached to their pets often report higher life satisfaction and lower levels
of depression; they often describe their pets as being attuned to their emotions, offering silent
companionship during challenging times.
Organizations like CancerCare’s Pet Assistance & Wellness (PAW) program assist patients in managing pet care during
treatment, recognizing the therapeutic benefits of pet companionship. Additionally, oncology nurses are encouraged
to assess patients’ relationships with their pets and provide resources to support these bonds. In summary, companion
animals serve as valuable caregivers, offering emotional support and enhancing the quality of life for patients.

Meet the Field Interviewer: Karen Hoffman
My name is Karen Hoffman, and I live in Franklin, Ohio. I moved to Ohio in 1974. My father
was in the military, and I have lived in Germany, New York, and Maryland. I was born in Dover,
Delaware and hope to visit there one day, as I was only 1 year old when we left. I have one son
who just graduated from high school and is pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. I also
have a dog named Sparky. I love vacationing at the beach - one of our favorite places to go to
is Fripp Island in South Carolina. One of my favorite things about Fripp Island is the deer that
inhabit the island. They are so docile and everywhere on the island. I
like doing anything outdoors and hiking in the mountains.
I have been with NORC since 2010 and have worked on the MCBS since 2014. My favorite
part of working on the MCBS is the respondents that I am so lucky to talk with. You truly are
the most important part of the MCBS, and I appreciate all you do to help improve Medicare.
Your commitment to the MCBS is inspiring and I appreciate every one of you. The hardest
part of the MCBS is when the respondents have completed their time with the MCBS and
saying “goodbye.” I want to thank all of you for your time and effort that you have put into
the MCBS, because you are really making a big difference in the Medicare program.

Sources

Answer Key

1. https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/kennedy-oz-cms-secure-healthcareindustry-pledge-to-fix-prior-authorization-system.html
2. https://www.cms.gov/files/document/internet-access-and-use-amongmedicare-beneficiaries-living-community-metropolitan-residencestatus.pdf
3. https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/276341/chicken-cutlets-with-sundried-tomato-cream-sauce
4. https://oncologybuddies.com/2025/06/02/companion-animals-ascaregivers
5. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11205-025-035741?cjdata=MXxOfDB8WXww&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_
source=commission_junction&utm_campaign=CONR_BOOKS_
ECOM_GL_PBOK_ALWYS_DEEPLINK&utm_content=textlink&utm_
term=PID100093539&CJEVENT=92ba5067417011f082

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