Improving Health Care for Adults with Disabilities: An Overview of Federal Data Sources

Implementation Tool
December 2020

Headline

Health care organizations can use population-level data sources about the experiences of people with disabilities to improve care.

Context

Many factors contribute to poor health outcomes among people with disabilities. To inform initiatives and improve care, providers and policymakers can use data related to health disparities and the experience of people with disabilities to better understand their care needs and barriers to quality care. This Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services brief highlights data sources that address access to care, experience of care, and social determinants of health for people with disabilities. 

About this Tool

Relevant data sources for information on people with disabilities include the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, Health and Retirement Study, Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, and Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, among others. This CMS tool provides details on each data source including the target population, reach, and specific topics and measures covered. It also describes opportunities to leverage these data sources and refine future data collection.

Takeaways

Providers and policymakers can use this data to uncover potential barriers to care, design tailored interventions, and foster more effective communication to better care for people with disabilities. 

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