Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #108309

Beth Simon, PhD¹, Michelle DeLisle¹, Erin Gordon, MA¹, Kate Heinrich, MA¹, Kate Guyer, MBA², Janice Nichols, PhD², Lauren Blatt³, Andrew Martin Maxfield, PhD⁴, and Myra Tanamor, MPP⁵. (1) Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21244, 410-786-0006, bsimon@cms.hhs.gov, (2) Health Services Research & Management Group, BearingPoint, Inc., 1676 International Drive, McLean, VA 22102-4828, (3) BearingPoint, 1676 International Drive, McLean, VA 22102, (4) Consultant, 1666 Kalorama Rd., NW, Washington, DC 20009, (5) L&M Policy Research, LLC, P.O. Box 42026, Washington, DC 20015

Background: Medicare beneficiaries rely on publications from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to get questions answered about a wide range of topics including coverage, choosing a doctor, nursing home or home health agency, preventive benefits, and rights and protections. CMS conducts rigorous consumer research while developing publications to ensure that they are user-friendly, but little is known about how useful CMS publications are to beneficiaries as they make important healthcare decisions. Purpose: This project investigated how Medicare beneficiaries and family caregivers used and rated Medicare booklets. Findings will inform CMS' publication development and dissemination strategies. Methods: 482 Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers were surveyed and 93 respondents participated in in-depth interviews. Results: Respondents use booklets to learn about the Medicare program and to help them make specific decisions about their healthcare. More than half (58%) used the publications to make specific decisions and 70% of respondents indicated they are likely/very likely to request a publication from Medicare in the future. About one in three (37%) reported that the booklets were only somewhat/not at all helpful, citing that they needed more information than the booklets provided (41%), the information was confusing or hard to use (29%), or that they already knew most of the information in the booklets (19%). Bivariate analyses that investigate associations between respondent characteristics such as demographics and coverage type, and reported usage, awareness of booklet, and satisfaction to discern patterns across subgroups of publication users will be reported.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Describe how Medicare booklets are used by beneficiaries and caregivers to make healthcare decisions
• Identify factors that contribute to usefulness of communication materials for Medicare beneficiaries
• Discuss options for increasing awareness of communication materials for Medicare beneficiaries

Keywords: Communication, Medicare

Related Web page: www.medicare.gov

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation