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## Participants and Recruiting

### How we're recruiting

For recruiting participants for lightweight studies, we will follow the processes below:

* We will leverage personal networks to find research participants.
* We will screen participants per the agreed-upon screening criteria with the Division of Research. See screener below.
* We will NOT recruit family members or personal friends of the CMS MAX team members.
* CMS MAX team members include anyone working on the CMS MAX project.

### Who we're recruiting

We are planning to recruit 8 participants for this study. Each participant must:
* Be a Medicare Beneficiary with Medicare Parts A & B.
* Use the internet regularly for things like online shopping/banking (at least once a week).
* Have access to a desktop, laptop, or tablet that is connected to the internet.

Additional criteria we're considering with our recruiting:
* Participants with Original Medicare are preferred; however, we will accept up to 3 participants with Medicare Advantage plans.
* Participants that currently have a mymedicare.gov account are preferred; however, this is not a requirement.
* Participants that have online accounts with other websites, e.g., social media, online banking, and online shopping.

### How we're communicating with participants during the recruiting process

To ensure consistency of communications with research participants, we will follow/use the communication templates below:
* Initial Email and Screener
* Scheduling Email
* Informed Consent Email and Form

### Initial Email and Screener

Using the contact information from the outreach above, the following emails will be sent to prospective participants.
> 
> Hello [NAME],
> 
> My name is [NAME], and I work for an independent research team from Nava PBC and Oddball. We are partnering with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the federal agency that runs Medicare, to improve Medicare.gov. We are seeking input on improving Medicare.gov from people who currently have Medicare.
> 
> [NAME] referred you as someone who may be interested in participating in a research study. I'm reaching out to see if you'd be open to a remote (video call) 30-minute interview. We will offer a $35 Amazon gift card for your time.
> 
> If you're interested in participating, please fill out our short survey below. Your answers help us ensure we're hearing from people with a variety of backgrounds. Your answers will only be used for this study and will only be viewable by our research team. Participating in this study will not impact your Medicare coverage in any way.
> 
> [Link to screener]
> 
> If you're not interested, you can ignore this email. We'll remove your contact information from our list.
> 
> If you have any questions, you can call me at [PHONE NUMBER].

### Screener Questions


| Pg| Question | Answer |
| --- | ----- | --------- |
|1| We are an independent research team from Nava PBC and Oddball partnering with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the federal agency that runs Medicare, to improve Medicare.gov.<br><br>We are seeking input on improving Medicare.gov from current Medicare beneficiaries. To qualify, please answer a few questions. Answering these questions helps us ensure we're hearing from people with a variety of backgrounds. Your answers will only be used for this study and will only be viewable by our research team. Your answers will not impact your Medicare coverage in any way. <br><br>If you’re selected, you will receive an email from one of our researchers to schedule an interview.| N/A|
|1|First and last name|[Open text field]|
|1|What is your primary email address? We will only use this for interview invites.|[Email field]|
|1|What is a good phone number where we can reach you? We will only use this for interview reminders.|[Open text field]|
|1|Are you currently enrolled in Medicare?|-No ➡️ **TERMINATE** <br>-Yes, I have Part A only ➡️ **TERMINATE** <br>-Yes, I have Parts A and B|
|1|How do you currently get your Medicare coverage? Do you have…?|-Original Medicare (sometimes called “the 80/20 plan” or “Fee-for-Service Medicare”)<br>-Medicare Advantage (like an HMO or PPO)<br>-Don’t know ➡️ **TERMINATE**|
|2|Do you have an online Medicare account?|-Yes <br>-No <br>-Don’t know|
|2|Do you have a desktop or laptop computer, including Chromebook, with a working webcam and access to the internet?|-Yes <br>-No ➡️ **TERMINATE**|
|2|How often do you use the internet? That is, using a smartphone, tablet, or computer to go online and look at news, shop, health care information, etc.|-Daily <br>-Several times a week <br>-Once a week or so <br>-A few times a month ➡️ **TERMINATE** <br>-Once a month or less often ➡️ **TERMINATE**|
|2|Do you have an online account for any of the following that you have used in the past month? (Select all that apply)|-Visiting social networking sites (like Facebook, Twitter, etc.) ➡️ **TERMINATE if only this is selected** <br>-Paying bills or managing financial accounts <br>-Shopping for, or purchasing, merchandise <br>-None of the above ➡️ **TERMINATE**|
|3|Are you available for a 30 minute interview between 8:00am and 6:00pm ET on any of the following days? (Select all that apply)|-Thursday, April 22 <br>-Friday, April 23 <br>-Monday, April 26 <br>-I am not available on any of these days|
|4|Thank you for your interest in participating in our research study. If you’re selected, you will receive an email from one of our researchers to schedule an interview.|N/A|

### Scheduling email

For prospective participants that meet the criteria specified above, a follow-up email will be sent to schedule a 30-minute interview. Once the participant is scheduled, a calendar invite is sent.


> Hello [NAME],
> 
> Thank you for your interest in participating in our research study. You responded that you are available for a 30-minute interview on [date]. Are you available during any of the times below?
> 
> * [time] on [week day], [month] [day], [year] 
> * [time] on [week day], [month] [day], [year] 
> * [time] on [week day], [month] [day], [year] 
> 
> During the interview, we'll ask you about previous experience with Medicare.gov. Then, we'll show you designs we've been working on to get your feedback. Once you've scheduled, we will follow up with more details. For the interview, you'll need a desktop or laptop computer, including Chromebook, with a working webcam and access to the internet.
> 
> Thank you,
> 
> [NAME] 
> 

### Informed Consent Email

Once a participant is scheduled for an interview, a follow up email is sent with the informed consent form. This is best done between 48 and 24 hours before the interview.

> 
> Hi [Name],
> 
> Thank you for scheduling time to speak with us on [date] at [time]. We are looking forward to meeting you.
> 
> For this video interview, you’ll need a desktop or laptop computer, including Chromebook, with a working webcam and access to the internet and a place where you can talk comfortably for 30 minutes.
> 
> We ask that you fill out our consent form before our interview session. This form details what we will do with the information we're learning, how we keep your sensitive information secure, and your rights as a research participant. Please let us know if you have questions.
> 
> [Link to consent form]
> 
> If you have any issues the day of, you can contact me at [method].
> 
> Please let me know if you have any questions,
>
> [Name]

### Consent Form
> 
> Thanks for taking the time to speak with us. Please read the information on the first page carefully. If you consent to be interviewed, fill out the second page. If you have any questions or would like a copy of this form for your records, email [researcher's email].
> 
> **We'll use this interview for:**
> * Making recommendations to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for improving the Medicare.gov account experience.
> * Internal presentations to members of our project team.
> 
> **Being interviewed is completely voluntary and up to you.** 
> * You don't have to answer any questions that may be uncomfortable for any reason.
> * You can ask us to stop the interview at any time.
> * You can request that we don't use portions or any of your interview, even after we are done.
> 
> **We will keep your information secure.**
> * We will never ask for private information like age, gender, or religious affiliation.
> * What you share will remain private within the research team. Only we have access to raw notes and video/audio recordings. 
> * We will never use your name or other personally identifiable information in summarized findings that are shared with the wider team. 
> * What you share will not impact your Medicare coverage in any way.
> 
> **Statement of consent**
> 
> By answering the following, you agree to participate in Nava PBC and Oddball's research into improving the Medicare.gov account experience. 
> 
> **I agree to let Nava PBC and Oddball:**
> * Interview me
> * Take notes
> * Audio record this session
> * Video record this session
> 
> We won't use what you share with us for any reason besides those listed above. 
> 
> Sign below to indicate that you have read this form and agree to be interviewed, recorded, and/or photographed as part of this research.
> 
> Sign here: _______________________________________ 			   
> 
> Date: _______________________    
> 
> Thank you! We appreciate your participation!
