Behavioral risk factor surveillance of aged Medicare beneficiaries, 1995
Arday, D.R.; Arday, S.L.; Bolen, J.; Rhodes, L.; Chin, J.; Minor, P.
Health Care Financing Review 18(4): 105-123
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0195-8631 PMID: 10175601 Document Number: 478847
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is an ongoing State-based telephone survey of adults, administered through State health departments. The survey estimates health status and the prevalence of various risk factors among respondents, who include both fee-for-service and managed care Medicare beneficiaries. In this article the authors present an overview of the BRFSS and report 1995 regional results among respondents who were 65 years of age or over and who had health insurance. The advantages and disadvantages of using the BRFSS as a tool to monitor beneficiary health status and risk factors are also discussed.