MEPS HC-106: MEPS Panel 10 Longitudinal Data File
December 2008
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends
540 Gaither Road
Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 427-1406
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. Data Use Agreement
B. Background
1.0 Household Component
2.0 Medical Provider Component
3.0 Survey Management and Data Collection
C. Technical and Programming Information
1.0 General Information
2.0 Data File Information
2.1 Variables
2.1.1 Variables from Annual Full-Year Consolidated Files
2.1.2 Constructed Variables for Selection of Analytic Group Files
2.1.3 Estimation Variables
A. Data Use Agreement
Individual identifiers have been removed from the micro-data contained in these files. Nevertheless, under sections 308 (d) and 903 (c) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 242m and 42 U.S.C. 299 a-1), data collected by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and/or the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) may not be used for any purpose other than for the purpose for which they were supplied; any effort to determine the identity of any reported cases is prohibited by law.
Therefore in accordance with the above referenced Federal Statute, it is understood that:
- No one is to use the data in this data set in any way except for statistical reporting and analysis; and
- If the identity of any person or establishment should be discovered inadvertently, then (a) no use will be made of this knowledge, (b) the Director Office of Management AHRQ will be advised of this incident, (c) the information that would identify any individual or establishment will be safeguarded or destroyed, as requested by AHRQ, and (d) no one else will be informed of the discovered identity; and
- No one will attempt to link this data set with individually identifiable records from any data sets other than the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey or the National Health Interview Survey.
By using these data you signify your agreement to comply with the above stated statutorily based requirements with the knowledge that deliberately making a false statement in any matter within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of the Federal Government violates Title 18 part 1 Chapter 47 Section 1001 and is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 or up to 5 years in prison.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality requests that users cite AHRQ and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey as the data source in any publications or research based upon these data.
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B. Background
1.0 Household Component
The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey
(MEPS) provides nationally representative estimates of health care
use, expenditures, sources of payment, and health insurance coverage
for the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. The MEPS Household
Component (HC) also provides estimates of respondents' health status,
demographic and socio-economic characteristics, employment, access
to care, and satisfaction with health care. Estimates can be produced
for individuals, families, and selected population subgroups. The
panel design of the survey, which includes five Rounds of interviews
covering two full calendar years, provides data for examining person
level changes in selected variables such as expenditures, health insurance
coverage, and health status. Using computer assisted personal interviewing
(CAPI) technology, information about each household member is collected,
and the survey builds on this information from interview to interview. All
data for a sampled household are reported by a single household respondent.
The MEPS-HC was initiated in 1996. Each year a new panel of sample households is selected. Because the data collected are comparable to those from earlier medical expenditure surveys conducted in 1977 and 1987, it is possible to analyze long-term trends. Each annual MEPS-HC sample size is about 15,000 households. Data can be analyzed at either the person or event level. Data must be weighted to produce national estimates.
The set of households selected for each panel of the MEPS-HC is a
subsample of households participating in the previous year's National
Health Interview Survey (NHIS) conducted by the National Center for
Health Statistics. The NHIS sampling frame provides a nationally representative
sample of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population and reflects
an oversample of blacks and Hispanics. MEPS oversamples additional
policy relevant sub-groups such as Asians and low income households.
The linkage of the MEPS to the previous year's NHIS provides additional
data for longitudinal analytic purposes.
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2.0 Medical Provider Component
Upon completion of the household CAPI interview and obtaining permission from the household survey respondents, a sample of medical providers is contacted by telephone to obtain information that household respondents cannot accurately provide. This part of the MEPS is called the Medical Provider Component (MPC) and information is collected on dates of visit, diagnosis and procedure codes, charges, and payments. The Pharmacy Component (PC), a subcomponent of the MPC, does not collect charges or diagnosis and procedure codes but does collect drug detail information, including National Drug Code (NDC) and medicine name, as well as date filled and sources and amounts of payment. The MPC is not designed to yield national estimates. It is primarily used as an imputation source to supplement/replace household reported expenditure information.
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3.0 Survey Management and Data Collection
MEPS-HC and MPC data are collected under the authority of the Public Health Service Act. Data are collected under contract with Westat, Inc. Data sets and summary statistics are edited and published in accordance with the confidentiality provisions of the Public Health Service Act and the Privacy Act. The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) provides consultation and technical assistance.
As soon as data collection and editing are completed, the MEPS survey data are released to the public in staged releases of summary reports, micro-data files, and tables via the MEPS Web site: www.meps.ahrq.gov. Selected data can be analyzed through MEPSnet, an on-line interactive tool designed to give data users the capability to statistically analyze MEPS data in a menu-driven environment.
Additional information on MEPS is available from the MEPS project manager or the MEPS public use data manager at the Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850 (301-427-1406).
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C. Technical and Programming Information
1.0 General Information
For MEPS Panels 1-8, longitudinal weight files that were released contained a limited number of variables that could be merged with data from two consecutive full-year consolidated files to create a longitudinal file for analysis. Beginning with Panel 9, AHRQ has replaced the longitudinal weight files with more complete and analytically useful panel-specific files that contain the variables from the consolidated full-year files.
This documentation describes the Panel 10 longitudinal data file from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPS-HC). Released as an ASCII file (with related SAS and SPSS programming statements and data use information) and a SAS transport dataset, this public use file provides information collected on a nationally representative sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the United States for the two-year period 2005-06. The file contains 3,161 variables and has a logical record length of 8,569 with an additional 2-byte carriage return/line feed at the end of each record.
This file consists of MEPS survey data obtained in Rounds 1-5 of MEPS Panel 10 and can be used to analyze changes over a two-year period. Variables in the file pertaining to survey administration, demographics, employment, health status, disability days, quality of care, patient satisfaction, health insurance, and medical care use and expenditures were obtained from the MEPS 2005 and 2006 Full-Year Consolidated Files (HC-097 and HC-105, respectively).
The following documentation offers a brief overview of the contents and structure of the files and programming information. A codebook of all the variables included in the Panel 10 data file is provided in a separate file (H106CB.PDF). A database of all MEPS products released to date and a variable locator indicating the major MEPS data items on public use files that have been released to date can be found on the MEPS Web site: www.meps.ahrq.gov.
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2.0 Data File Information
This public use file contains records for the 15,669
persons in Panel 10 for whom interview data were obtained for all rounds
they were in-scope (i.e., a member of the civilian noninstitutionalized population)
for the survey. Although data are available for all five rounds for more
than 90% of the cases, 1,483 persons on the file do not have data for one
or more rounds. These persons are those who were born, died, were in the
military or an institution, or left the country during the two-year period.
In contrast, persons in the panel who participated in the survey for only
part of the period they were in-scope are not included in this file. To compensate
for this attrition, adjustments were made in the construction of the panel
weight variable included in this file (LONGWT). The codebook provides
both weighted and unweighted frequencies for each variable on the data file.
The LONGWT variable should be used to produce national estimates for the
two-year period.
Each MEPS panel can be linked back to the previous year's National Health Interview Survey public use data files. For information on obtaining MEPS/NHIS link files please see http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_stats/more_info_download_data_files.jsp.
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2.1 Variables
2.1.1 Variables from Annual Full-Year Consolidated Files
Most variables on this file were obtained from the MEPS 2005 and 2006 Full-Year Consolidated Files (HC-097 and HC-105, respectively). However, names for time dependent variables from these files were modified in order to: 1) eliminate duplicate variable names for data reflecting different time periods during the panel, and 2) standardize variable names to facilitate pooling of multiple MEPS panels for analysis.1 Generally, annual variables with a suffix of “05” and “06” are renamed with a suffix of “Y1” and “Y2”, respectively. Variables with a suffix of “31”, “42”, and “53” are renamed with a suffix denoting the round the data was collected (i.e., “1” , “2”, or “3” for variables originating from Rounds 1-3 on the 2005 full-year file and “3”, “4”, or “5” for variables originating from Rounds 3-5 on the 2006 full-year file).2 It is necessary to use this crosswalk in conjunction with documentation for the 2005 and 2006 full-year consolidated files to obtain a full description of variables on this file. Table 1 below provides the crosswalk summarizing the scheme used for renaming variables from the annual files.
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Table 1: Crosswalk of Variable Names between the Full-Year Consolidated Files and the Longitudinal File
Type of Variable |
Full-Year Consolidated File Variable Name Suffix |
Longitudinal File Variable Name Suffix |
Specific Cases or Examples |
Constant (i.e., not round or year specific) |
No suffixes |
No suffixes |
All variables:
DOBMM=DOBMM
DOBYY=DOBYY
DUID=DUID
PID=PID
DUPERSID=DUPERSID
EDUCYR=EDUCYR
HIDEG=HIDEG
HISPANX=HISPANX
HISPCAT=HISPCAT
INTVLANG=INTVLANG
RACEAX=RACEAX
RACEBX=RACEBX
RACEWX=RACEWX
RACEX=RACEX
RACETHNX=RACETHNX
SEX=SEX
VARPSU=VARPSU
VARSTR=VARSTR |
Annual, family related variables |
YR |
Y1 or YR1
Y2 or YR2 |
All variables:
FAMIDYR=FAMIDYR1 (2005 file)
FAMRFPYR=FAMRFPY1 (2005 file)
FAMSZEYR=FAMSZEY1 (2005 file)
FAMIDYR=FAMIDYR2 (2006 file)
FAMRFPYR=FAMRFPY2 (2006 file)FAMSZEYR=FAMSZEY2 (2006 file) |
Annual, CPS family identifiers |
No suffix |
Y1
Y2 |
All variables:
CPSFAMID= CPSFAMY1 (2005)
CPSFAMID= CPSFAMY2 (2006) |
Annual,
health insurance eligibility units |
No suffix |
Y1
Y2 |
All variables:
HIEUIDX=HIEUIDY1 (2005)
HIEUIDX=HIEUIDY2 (2006) |
Annual, inscope variables |
No suffixes |
YR1
YR2 |
All variables:
INSCOPE=INSCPYR1 (2005 file)
INSCOPE=INSCPYR2 (2006 file)
|
12/31 status variables |
1231 in 2005 file
1231 in 2006 file |
Y1
Y2 |
All variables:
FAMS1231=FAMSY1 (2005 file)
FCRP1231=FCRPY1 (2005 file)
FCSZ1231= FCSZY1 (2005 file)
FMRS1231= FMRSY1 (2005 file)
INSC1231=INSCY1 (2005 file)
FAMS1231=FAMSY2 (2006 file)
FCRP1231=FCRPY2 (2006 file)
FCSZ1231= FCSZY2 (2006 file)
FMRS1231= FMRSY2 (2006file)
INSC1231=INSCY2 (2006 file) |
Annual |
05, 05X, 05F, or 05C 06, 06X, 06F, or 06C |
Y1, Y1X, Y1F, or Y1C
Y2, Y2X, Y2F, or Y2C |
Example:
TOTEXP05=TOTEXPY1 (2005 file)
TOTEXP06=TOTEXPY2 (2006 file) |
Variables for health insurance prior to January 1, 2005
(data collected in round 1 only) |
No suffixes |
No suffixes |
All variables:
PREVCOVR=PREVCOVR
COVRMM=COVRMM
COVRYY=COVRYY
WASESTB=WASESTB
WASMCARE=WASMCARE
WASMCAID=WASMCAID
WASCHAMP=WASCHAMP
WASVA=WASVA
WASPRIV=WASPRIV
WASOTGOV=WASOTGOV
WASAFDC=WASAFDC
WASSSI=WASSSI
WASSTAT1=WASSTAT1
WASSTAT2=WASSTAT2
WASSTAT3=WASSTAT3
WASSTAT4=WASSTAT4
WASOTHER=WASOTHER
NOINSBEF=NOINSBEF
NOINSTM=NOINSTM
NOINUNIT=NOINUNIT
MORECOVR=MORECOVR
INSENDMM=INSENDMM
INSENDYY=INSENDYY |
Annual |
No suffixes [3] |
Y1
Y2 |
All variables:
KEYNESS=KEYNESY1 (2005 file)
SAQELIG=SAQELIY1 (2005 file)
EVRWRK=EVRWRKY1 (2005 file)
EVRETIRE=EVRETIY1 (2005 file)
EVRUNAT=EVRUNAY1 (2005 file)
EVRUNINS=EVRUINY1 (2005 file)
KEYNESS=KEYNESY2 (2006 file)
SAQELIG=SAQELIY2 (2006 file)
EVRWRK=EVRWRKY2 (2006 file)
EVRETIRE=EVRETIY2 (2006 file)
EVRUNAT=EVRUNAY2 (2006 file)
EVRUNINS=EVRUINY2 (2006 file) |
Monthly |
2-character month + 05
2-character month + 06 |
2-character month + Y1
2-character month + Y2 |
Example:
PRIJA05=PRIJAY1 (2005 file)
PRIJA06=PRIJAY2 (2006 file) |
Round Specific |
31 or 31X in 2005 file
42 or 42X in 2005 file
53 or 53X in 2005 file
31 or 31X in 2006 file
42 or 42X in 2006 file
53 or 53X in 2006 file |
1 or 1X for 2005
2 or 2X for 2005
3 or 3X for 2005
3 or 3X for 2006
4 or 4X for 2006
5 or 5X for 2006 |
Example:
RTHLTH31 = RTHLTH1 (2005 file)
RTHLTH42 =RTHLTH2 (2005 file)
RTHLTH53 =RTHLTH3 (2005 file if YRIND=2)
RTHLTH31 = RTHLTH3 (2006 file if YEARIND=1 or 3)
RTHLTH42 =RTHLTH4 (2006 file)RTHLTH53 =RTHLTH5 (2006 file) |
Diabetes care eye exams |
DSExyy53 |
Y0R for 2004 data
Y1R for 2005 data
Y2R for 2006 data
Y3R for 2007 data |
All cases:
DSEB0453=DSEBY0R3 (2005 file)
DSEY0453=DSEY0R3 (2005 file)
DSEY0553=DSEY1R3 (2005 file)
DSEY0653=DSEY2R3 (2005 file)
DSEB0553=DSEBY1R5 (2006 file)
DSEY0553=DSEY1R5 (2006 file)
DSEY0653=DSEY2R5 (2006 file)
DSEY0753=DSEY3R5 (2006 file) |
Job Change |
3142
4253 |
12 for 2005
23 for 2005
34 for 2006
45 for 2006 |
All cases:
CHJ3142=CHJ12 (2005 file)
CHJ4253=CHGJ23 (2005 file)
YCHJ3142=YCHJ12 (2005 file)
YCHJ4253=YCHGJ23 (2005 file)
CHJ3142=CHGJ34 (2006 file)
CHJ4253=CHGJ45 (2006 file)
YCHJ3142=YCHGJ34 (2006 file)
YCHJ4253=YCHGJ45 (2006 file) |
[1] A variable named PANEL is also included to facilitate pooling across panels. This variable is simply the panel number and is therefore constant across all records within a longitudinal file.
[2] While Round 3 values were obtained for most observations from the 2006 Full-Year Consolidated File, they were obtained from the 2005 Full-Year Consolidated File for sample persons where YEARIND=2 (i.e., in 2005 only).
[3] To maintain the 8-character naming convention, some variable names had the last character or two dropped in the renaming process.
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2.1.2. Constructed Variables for Selection of Analytic Group
The following eight variables were constructed and included on the file to facilitate the selection of appropriate cases for various analyses. Table 2 below contains descriptive statistics for these variables.
YEARIND |
1=both years, 2=in 2005 only, and 3=in 2006 only |
ALL5RDS |
Inscope and data collected in all five rounds (0=no, 1=yes) |
DIED |
Died during the two-year survey period (0=no, 1=yes) |
INST |
Institutionalized for some time during the two-year survey period (0=no, 1=yes) |
MILITARY |
Active duty military for some time during the two-year survey period (0=no, 1=yes) |
ENTRSRVY |
Entered survey after beginning of panel (mainly births; also includes persons who had no initial chance of selection who moved into a MEPS sample household) (0=no, 1=yes) |
LEFTUS |
Moved out of the country after beginning of panel (0=no, 1=yes) |
OTHER |
Not identified in any of the above analytic groups (0=no, 1=yes) |
Table 2: Frequencies and Percentage for Constructed Variables
Variable |
Number of Records |
Percentage of Records (N=16,112) |
YEARIND=1 (i.e., person in both years) |
15,177 |
96.9 |
ALL5RDS=1 (yes) |
14,186 |
90.5 |
DIED=1 (yes) |
196 |
1.3 |
INST=1 (yes) |
102 |
0.7 |
MILITARY=1 (yes) |
33 |
0.2 |
ENTRSRVY=1 (yes) |
1,028 |
6.6 |
LEFTUS=1 (yes) |
74 |
0.5 |
OTHER=1 (yes) |
78 |
0.5 |
Following are examples of situations where these variables would be useful in selecting records for analysis:
- Analysts interested in working only with persons who were in-scope and had data for all five rounds of the panel should subset to cases where ALL5RDS=1.
- If a researcher wanted to include persons who were in-scope and had data for all five rounds of the panel as well as those in the survey at the beginning of the panel who subsequently died, then they would include cases where ALL5RDS=1 or (ENTRSRVY=0 and DIED=1).
- If a researcher wanted to include persons who were in-scope and had data for all five rounds of the panel as well as those who died in the second year of the panel then they would include cases where ALL5RDS=1 or (DIED=1 and YEARIND=1).
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2.1.3 Estimation Variables
Longitudinal Estimations for Panel 10
The file contains a weight variable (LONGWT) and variance estimation variables (VARSTR, VARPSU) that should be applied when producing national estimates for longitudinal analyses. For example, LONGWT applied to the 14,186 cases where ALL5RDS=1 produces a weighted population estimate of 276.5 million. This represents an estimate of the number of persons in the civilian noninstitutionalized population for the entire two-year period from 2005-06. To obtain estimates of variability (such as the standard error of sample estimates or corresponding confidence intervals) for estimates based on MEPS survey data, one needs to take into account the complex sample design of MEPS by specifying the estimation variables including stratum of sample selection (VARSTR), primary sampling unit (VARPSU), and longitudinal weight (LONGWT).
Pooled Estimations
For Panels 1-6, each MEPS longitudinal weight file was released with a variance structure unique to the particular MEPS sample for that panel. When analyzing subpopulations and/or low prevalence events, it may be desirable to pool together more than one panel of MEPS-HC data to yield sample sizes large enough to generate reliable estimates. This file contains the variance estimation variables (STRA9606, PSU9606) that should be applied when producing esimates using any of the first six MEPS panels. STRA9606 and PSU9606 reconcile the differences in the variance units between the units on the released annual MEPS public use files. Refer to HC-036: Pooled Estimation File for more information.
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