Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey Releases 2019 Early Look + Upcoming 2019 LDS Data Availability

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In anticipation of the release of the 2019 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) LDS files in early summer 2021, CMS is announcing the release of early estimates from the 2019 data and reminding users to update their data use agreement.

2019 Early Look Data Brief

CMS is pleased to release the 2019 MCBS Early Look Data Brief. Using preliminary data for community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries from the 2019 MCBS Survey File, the Early Look presents selected measures that are not available in the CMS administrative data, including beneficiary health status and functioning, access to care, satisfaction with care, and primary language spoken at home.

Some key statistics provided in the 2019 Early Look Data Brief include:

• Almost thirty percent of community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries reported serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
• Seventeen percent of community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries reported serious difficulty with concentrating, remembering, or making decisions. 
• Although the majority of community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries report English as their primary language spoken at home, twelve percent reported that their primary language is other than English.
• Ten percent of community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries reported delaying care due to cost.

You may access the full data brief here.

Upcoming 2019 LDS Data Availability

CMS is pleased to announce the upcoming availability of the 2019 MCBS LDS research files. MCBS users interested in these data should begin to update their Data Use Agreements (DUAs) in anticipation of file availability.

• 2019 MCBS Survey File will be available early summer 2021
• 2019 MCBS Cost Supplement will be available late summer 2021

Please note that your DUA should include either the “2019 MCBS Survey File Only” or the “2019 MCBS Survey File Plus Cost Supplement”, but not both. Those requesting the MCBS Survey File Plus Cost Supplement will receive the Survey File first as soon as it becomes available.

For information on how to order/add LDS files through the EPPE LDS process, please visit here.