National Core Indicators – Aging and Disabilities™
The National Core Indicators – Aging and Disabilities™ (NCI-AD™) Adult Consumer Survey is a nationally validated survey to gather a standard set of performance and person-reported outcome measures for older adults and people with physical disabilities. Indicators address key areas of concern, including service planning, rights, community inclusion, choice, health and care coordination, safety, and relationships. More information about this project is available on the national website, http://nci-ad.org/.
As the single state agency overseeing Medi-Cal in California, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is using the NCI-AD Adult Consumer Survey to better capture person-reported information on quality of life, community integration, and satisfaction among people who receive Medi-Cal home and community-based services (HCBS). NCI-AD is an important tool for measuring and improving the quality of California's Medi-Cal-funded HCBS. DHCS will use the data collected to gather performance and outcome measures that can be used to track performance over time, compare performance with other states, and compare California's survey results against national benchmarks.
2024-2025 NCI-AD Survey Cycle
In the NCI-AD Adult Consumer Survey, a sample of members in most Medi-Cal HCBS programs will be invited to complete a survey. These Medi-Cal HCBS programs include:
What to Expect
Members selected to participate in the survey should receive information in the mail. Knowledge Services, DHCS's NCI-AD Adult Consumer Survey vendor, will begin outreach in January 2025 to ask members to participate in the NCI-AD survey.
The person receiving services and/or legal guardian will be given the choice to participate in person at their home, in person at an alternate location, or remotely via telephone or videoconference. The survey generally takes between 45 and 60 minutes to complete.
If you would like to participate, but have not yet received a call, please email surveys@knowledgeservices.com or call +1 866 228-5859.
NCI-AD Informational Materials
NCI-AD Flyer (English) NCI-AD Flyer (Español)NCI-AD Consent Form (English)Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is California doing the survey?
DHCS partnered with the National Core Indicators project to hear from Medi-Cal members about their experiences in receiving home and community-based services (HCBS).
DHCS is working with Knowledge Services, a survey company, to learn more about the experiences and quality of life of older adults and people with physical disabilities.
2. Why should I participate?
Participating in the NCI-AD Adult Consumer Survey allows members receiving HCBS to share their perspective on the services they receive and how they feel about their lives. When participants and their legal guardians share their stories in the survey, they can help California plan for future program improvements.
3. Do I have to take the survey?
No. Participating is optional. Whether or not you participate in the survey will not impact your services now or in the future.
4. What will happen if I participate?
An interviewer will call you between January and May 2025 to discuss the survey and next steps. You or your legal guardian can choose the time and place of the interview, decide to meet in person or via secure technology, and determine when and where you feel comfortable.
5. How will my privacy be protected?
All answers are confidential, secure, and combined with other participant responses for reporting purposes. Individual answers will not be shared. The information you share will not impact your services now or in the future.
6. What are the survey questions about?
The questions are about your quality of life, health, safety, transportation, people who help you, where you live, supports and services, and things you do in the community. You can stop the interview at any time, and you do not have to answer any questions you do not feel comfortable answering. There are no right or wrong answers. Your responses to these questions will not change anything about your care, now and in the future.
7. How long does the survey take?
The survey generally takes about 45-60 minutes.
8. What if I am a legal guardian?
Knowledge Services will call you first and ask for your consent. Once legal guardian consent is obtained, Knowledge Services will contact the member to ask if they would like to participate in the survey.
You can be present at the interview, but you do not need to be. If you prefer, you can ask someone else to attend on your behalf.
9. What should I do if I received this letter instead of the participant or legal guardian?
Please forward this communication as well as any future NCI-related correspondence to the potential participant and their legal guardian. Call Knowledge Services toll-free at 866-228-5859 if this information should be directed elsewhere.
Contact Us
For general questions about NCI-AD, please email
NCIADhelp@dhcs.ca.gov.
If you would like to participate in the survey, but have not yet received a call, please email
surveys@knowledgeservices.com or call 1-608-509-9713 or +1 866 228-5859.
