Description: MEPS-HC survey participants are asked about their prescription drugs and then are asked for permission to collect more detailed information from their pharmacies. At the pharmacies, data are collected on the type, dosage, and payment for each filled prescription. No information is collected for over-the-counter medications. No information is collected for prescription drugs obtained during hospital visits.

Data tables: The HC Summary Data Tables include prescription drugs data for overall expenditure and utilization (Total Medical Expenditures), expenditure and utilization by medical conditions (Expenditures by Medical Conditions), and the top 10 drugs (Prescription Drugs).

Analytic tools: You can use the MEPSnet/HC query tool to generate your own estimates by selecting prescription drug expenditures. Select the Prescribed Medicines variables within the Utilization, Expenditures, and SOP Variable Group categoryof the Variable Selection Query Tab.

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