Online Program

LI Course
Oral

Partnership: MEPS is one of a number of national health care databases funded and housed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Statement of Purpose and Institute Overview: The purpose of this course is to facilitate the use and application of the MEPS data as it relates to health policy. The mission of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans. AHRQ is committed to improving health care safety and quality by developing successful partnerships and generating the knowledge and tools required for long-term improvement. AHRQ supports research that helps policy makers, health care providers, and individuals make informed decisions and in turn improve the quality of health care services available to the American public. The Nation's health care system has undergone major changes recently; most notable is the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). AHRQ is in a position to help the health care community address developments and gaps in health care as the PPACA is implemented, for example the unequal implementation of Medicaid expansion. Participants will be introduced to a valuable AHRQ data resource: the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. MEPS collects metropolitan, regional, state and national level data on medical care utilization and expenditures (including all sources of payment) for such care. Data from MEPS can facilitate research pertaining to utilization, expenditures, medical conditions (either acute or chronic) by the type of health care provided (i.e. inpatient, ambulatory, prescribed medicines, and home health). The proposed session will provide the knowledge necessary to formulate and develop research plans utilizing the MEPS data. Participants will learn how to identify appropriate variables for their research and how to use them. MEPS data can facilitate research across years (data currently available for the period 1996-2013) thus changes over time may be assessed. Linkage capabilities with other data sources such as the Area Resource File will be discussed. In addition, analytical web based tools will be discussed and demonstrated. Participants will be encouraged to follow the demonstration on their laptops. Data and research experts from each of the topic areas will contribute to the presentation. Participants will be encouraged to ask questions and seek guidance related to their specific research needs.

Session Objectives: Describe how MEPS data is collected. Demonstrate an understanding of the structure and contents of the different record levels of MEPS files (i.e. family-, person-, condition-, job-, and medical event-level files). Identify two examples of web based MEPS data access tools.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)