Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS)
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Summary
The Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) has collected data since 1991 on Medicare beneficiaries’ social and medical risk factors and the relationship between these factors, healthcare utilization, and health outcomes – at a point in time and over time – directly from beneficiaries. These data, linked with Medicare enrollment data and claims, provide information not otherwise available through administrative data on the Medicare program and can be used to evaluate effectiveness of health care policy and policy interventions.
| https://www.cms.gov/data-research/research/medicare-current-beneficiary-survey | |
| Agency | HHS, CMS |
|---|---|
| Data Checkup | |
Historical Data Availability
No Known Issue
Future Data Availability
No Known Issue
Data Quality
No Known Issue
Statutory Context
Moderate Risk
MCBS is mentioned, but not necessarily mandated, in 42 USC 1395b-8 and there are no alternatives since it provides insights that are not available in adminsitrative data
Staffing and Funding
High Risk
HHS lost more than 10,000 staff before the shutdown.
Policy
High Risk
An Information Collection Request submitted on 4/9/2025 removed questions on gender identity and perceived discriminaton and made changes to sexual orientation items due to EO 14168 Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.
Last updated: 2025-12-16
| Primary URL | https://www.cms.gov/data-research/research/medicare-current-beneficiary-survey |
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Details
| OMB Control Number | 0938-0568 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authorizing Statutes | Pub.L. 111 - 148 3021, Pub.L. 108 - 173 723 | |||
| Related ICRs |
| Reference Number | Title | Agency | Status | Request Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 202607-0938-013 | New Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) (CMS-P-0015A) | HHS/CMS | Received in OIRA | Revision of a currently approved collection |
| 202511-0938-005 | Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) (CMS-P-0015A) | HHS/CMS | Active | Revision of a currently approved collection |
| 202504-0938-006 | Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) (CMS-P-0015A) | HHS/CMS | Active | No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection |