Community Authority Letter_NGACO

February , 2021

Dear [NAME]:

On behalf of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NORC at the University of Chicago is undertaking an important national study about Medicare beneficiaries who are part of Next Generation Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and how they have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are interviewing Medicare beneficiaries throughout the United States where ACOs are established, which includes your community, as part of a national random sample. NORC interviewers will contact selected beneficiaries in your community by phone starting in early March. We wanted to inform you of this study as we expect that participants may reach out to you, or their health care provider, for details about the study. We would greatly appreciate if you made providers in your ACO aware of the project so that they can respond if patients inquire about the study.

The safety and privacy of these selected beneficiaries is our greatest priority. Our interviewers will contact selected beneficiaries by phone to explain the study and conduct the interview. Be assured that participation in this study by your patients is completely voluntary and that our interviewers will adhere to the strictest professional standards.

NORC is one of the oldest and most prestigious social survey research organizations in the nation. We have been conducting nationwide surveys for over 70 years, during which we have earned a reputation for research that is scientifically sound and in the public interest.

If you have any questions or would like more information on the study or NORC, please visit: acocovid.norc.org.

You may also contact us directly at 1-877-389-3429 or e-mail [email]

Sincerely,

Ella Kemp

MCBS Field Production Manager

NORC Senior Field Manager

OMB No. 0938-0568

Expires 8 /312023