Enhancements to the Collection of Data on Race, Ethnicity, Primary Language, and Other Characteristics to Improve Research on Health Disparities

• Activity Number: 676
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Thursday, August 13, 2015 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Survey Research Methods Section
• Author(s): Paul Guerino*
• Companies: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• Keywords: MCBS ; Health Disparities ; Health Survey ; LEP ; LGBT ; Minorities

Abstract

The Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) is the most comprehensive and complete survey available on the Medicare population and is essential in capturing data not otherwise collected through CMS operations/administration. The MCBS collects information that plays a critical role in the monitoring and evaluation of key provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), such as analyzing and monitoring trends in health disparities. In response to Federal initiatives to enhance the collection and reporting of key demographic data, the MCBS is undergoing several enhancements to more accurately capture demographic information and be consistent with standards set for HHS sponsored population based health surveys. This includes new oversamples of Hispanic and Asian beneficiaries, new items on limited English proficiency and sexual and gender minority status as well as modified items on race, ethnicity, and disability status. This paper will discuss these innovations and their impact on health disparities research using the MCBS.