What is the SEER-MHOS linked database?
The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (SEER-MHOS) linked database is a research resource designed to improve our understanding of the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of cancer patients and survivors enrolled in Medicare health plans. SEER-MHOS is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Several catalysts spurred the creation of the SEER-MHOS linked database: • In a 1996 report, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) urged a stronger focus on “outputs” than “inputs” of care in measuring health care quality. IOM called HRQOL a key outcome for older Americans. • A recent NCI report called for more HRQOL measurement in clinical trials and cancer survivorship research to achieve the 2015 goal of eliminating suffering due to cancer. • HRQOL is a major reason for offering cancer treatment, yet the current national surveys that collect HRQOL data are not tailored to cancer patients. NCI re
