The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #34177

Steven B. Cohen, PhD and William Yu. Division of Statistical Research and Methods, CCFS, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2101 E. Jefferson Street, Suite 500, Rockville, MD 20852, (301) 594-6171, scohen@ahrq.gov

The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) was designed to produce national and regional estimates of the annual health care utilization, expenditures, sources of payment and insurance coverage of the U.S. civilian non-institutionalized population. In 2001, the sample design of the MEPS was modified in order to improve the precision of estimates derived from the survey. The new sample design reflects a near doubling of the first stage sampling units. This enhancement was coupled with a significant sample increase in the number of households completing the full series of interviews necessary to acquire calendar year information, moving from 10,000 in 2000 to 15,000 in 2002 and subsequent years. The sample also included an oversample of households with Hispanics, blacks, and Asians, in addition to low income households. These design enhancements were implemented in concert with additional content to improve the capacity for healthcare quality measurement in MEPS, and to increase our ability to conduct analysis of persons with chronic conditions. In this paper, the impact of these design enhancements on the resultant precision of MEPS survey estimates and analytic capacity is examined. Particular attention is given to the identification of improvements in the MEPS to facilitate health care research for priority populations which include low income groups, minority groups, women, children, the elderly, individuals with special health care needs (disabilities, chronic care needs, end-of-life care needs, chronic conditions), and for individuals residing in inner city areas and in rural areas.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants in the session will acquire information and perspectives regarding the capacity of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey to permit analyses of the U.S. health care system including the population’s access to, use of, and expenditures and sources of payment for health care; the availability and costs of private health insurance in the employment-related and non-group markets; the population enrolled in public health insurance coverage and those without health care coverage; and the role of health status in health care use, expenditures, and household decision making, and in health insurance and employment. Participants will learn of the methodologies employed in the MEPS to enhance health care research capacities for priority populations which include low income groups, minority groups, women, children, the elderly, individuals with special health care needs (disabilities, chronic care needs, end-of-life care needs, chronic conditions), and for individuals residing in inner city areas and in rural areas.

Keywords: Statistics, Cost Issues

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS/CDC)
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employment