New Measures in the Medicare Health Outcomes Survey

The Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (HOS) assesses health and functional outcomes of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA). We discuss the background and rationale for the development of a new set of HOS measures addressing common problems in older populations, including falls, osteoporosis, urinary incontinence, and physical activity. Importantly, this survey makes it possible to learn whether patients are receiving advice and counseling on important topics related to prevention and functioning for older adults. We use descriptive data from the 2006 HOS to evaluate the prevalence of these problems, and to examine whether differences exist by vulnerable populations. The HOS is a mail survey with telephone follow-up, administered to MA enrollees. The survey includes items on health status, chronic conditions, functional limitations, and demographics. The study focuses on community dwelling Medicare beneficiaries, aged 65 and older, enrolled in MA. 2006 HOS data will be used to evaluate the overall prevalence of problems with falls, osteoporosis, urinary incontinence and physical activity among elderly beneficiaries, as well as physician counseling for these conditions. The data will also be used to assess disparities in groups such as non-white racial/ethnic minorities, and those with lower education or income. The HOS is the largest scale effort to evaluate health outcomes among elderly Medicare beneficiaries, and serves as a platform for evaluating the quality of care and addressing comprehensive health needs of the elderly, particularly vulnerable groups.