title: Medicare beneficiary knowledge: measurement implications from a qualitative study.
abstract: Medicare beneficiary knowledge about fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare versus managed care alternatives (MCA) has been studied extensively. However, these efforts might be compromised by lack of familiarity with common Medicare terminology. We used qualitative methods to examine beneficiaries' familiarity with Medicare Programs (FFS and MCA) and terminology. Twenty-one indepth, semi-structured beneficiary interview transcripts were analyzed through iterative review. Across sex, race/ethnicity, and benefits programs, participants found interview questions with Medicare terminology difficult to answer, potentially causing missing, incorrect, and inaccurate responses to interview questions. Assessment of beneficiary knowledge may be fundamentally impacted by absence of basic familiarity with Medicare Programs terminology.
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine and the Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center, Houston, USA. cteal@bcm.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Cayla R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Teal
authors.forename: Debora A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Paterniti
authors.forename: Christi L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Dolly A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: Robert O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014481:United States