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Update Notes


MEPS-HC - Health Insurance Coverage Tables 1.a, 2.a, and 4.a, 2012-2013

Update #18: 08/12/16

Tables affected: Table 1.a, Table 2.a, and Table 4.a Health insurance coverage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population, United States, 2012-2013. Total number of tables affected: 6.

Issue: The statistics for black males, white males, black females and white females were mislabeled in the previously released sets of tables. The table numbers for black males were identified as being for white males and vice versa. Similarly the black female and white female statistics were interchanged.

Action taken: The affected tables have been corrected.



MEPS-HC - Health Insurance Coverage Tables, 2005-2011

Update #17: 09/12/14

Tables affected: Table 2.a and Table 4.a

Issue: The calculation of standard errors neglected to include sampling information from the 65 and over population that is excluded from the tables.

Action taken: The standard errors have been corrected in the affected tables.

Additional updates: Refer to Update #7 for 2005-2006 tables, and Update #14 for 2009 tables.


MEPS-HC – Top Prescription Drugs Tables, 2000-2011

Update #16: 01/10/14

Tables affected: Table 1.1, Table 1.2, Table 2.1, and Table 2.2

User's note: The rankings in the Top Prescription Drugs tables were determined by totaling and ranking the number of acquisitions (fills or refills), the expenses, or the number of people who reported obtaining each drug. The rankings can be affected by the data editing procedures used to identify each drug. Each acquisition with the same National Drug Code (NDC) is assigned the most prevalent drug name, and NDCs are grouped together where the most prevalent drug name is the same. The name of the drug is typically the first word but clerical editing can also alter it.

The rankings can also be affected by procedures to ensure confidentiality. Prior to public release, the data is reviewed by a pharmacist consultant to ensure the confidentiality of people in the MEPS sample. Drugs that are rarely used or are associated with very rare conditions, particularly orphan drugs, are censored. In these cases, the drug name is replaced with a more general therapeutic class name and the NDC is set to missing. These censored drugs are omitted from the use and expenditure rankings.

Additional updates: Refer to Update #4.


MEPS-HC – Quality of Care, 2000-2009

Update #15: 04/20/12

Tables affected: Table 1.2 series

Issue: The titles of Table 1.2 series should more precisely match the wording of the question asked.

Action taken: The titles were changed from "Receiving a Lipid Profile" to "Having a Blood Cholesterol Check" in order to match the wording of the survey question used to collect the data. No changes were made to the estimates themselves; only the names were changed.


MEPS-HC - Health Insurance Coverage Tables 1.a-5.a, all of 2009

Update #14: 07/29/11

Tables affected: Table 1.a through 5.a Health insurance coverage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population, United States, all of 2009. Total number of tables affected: 5.

Issue: Tables have been updated using a a different age calculation.

Action taken: The 2009 Health Insurance Tables (full year) have been updated to implement a different age calculation: estimates tabulated by age differ from tables previously posted.


MEPS-HC – Quality of Care, 2005 - 2008

Update #13: 04/29/11

Tables affected: Table 1.1.

Issue: The data item used for Table 1.1 was modified due to changes in the Diabetes Care Supplement questionnaire instrument.

Action taken: Changes were made to Table 1.1 to reflect the changes in the questionnaire instrument. This table covers the question on the hemoglobin A1C measurement. For years 2004 and earlier, the maximum value was 95 that corresponded to the number of tests. Starting in 2005, the maximum value was 96 where a value of 95 corresponded to the number of tests and a value of 96 indicated the individual did not have a blood test. The estimates have been revised to include the value of 96 in the Did Not Have Measurement category.

Additionally, it should be noted that the construction of the age variable changed for 2008. Age was taken from the Dec 31st variable if nonmissing; else, if missing, age was taken from the Round 4/2 counterpart; else from the Round 3/1 counterpart. If no valid data were available during any of these Rounds of data collection, then age was assigned a missing value, -1 (Inapplicable). In prior years, the construction of age checked the Round 5/3 counterpart for a nonmissing value before proceeding to the Round 4/2 counterpart.

Additional updates for Table 1.1. for year 2008: Refer to Update #12.


MEPS-HC – Quality of Care, 2008

Update #12: 12/30/10

Tables affected: Table 1 series.

Issue: The data items used for Tables 1.2, 1.4, and 1.5 were modified due to changes in the Diabetes Care Supplement questionnaire instrument.

Action taken: Changes were made to Tables 1.2, 1.4, and 1.5 to reflect the changes in the questionnaire instrument. These tables cover the questions on the lipid profile (Table 1.2), foot exams (Table 1.4), and influenza immunization (Table 1.5).

Additionally, Tables 1.1 – Tables 1.5 were modified to use the DCS weight variable DIABW08F. Person-level weight is used in prior years.

Additional updates for Table 1.2. for year 2008: Refer to Update #15.


MEPS-HC – Quality of Care, 2004-2007

Update #11: 12/30/10

Tables affected: Tables reporting data from the SAQ (Tables 2.1, 3.1, 3.3, 4.1, 4.3, 4.5, 4.7, and 4.9).

Issue: The previously released 2004-2007 SAQ tables used the person-level weight in determining the table estimates. The SAQ survey instrument has its own weights which should be used in conjunction with data items from that instrument.

Action taken: The SAQ weight variable is now being used for all tables using SAQ data. These tables include the advice to quit smoking table (Table 2.1) and the satisfaction with health care providers tables (Tables 3.1, 3.3, 4.1, 4.3, 4.5, 4.7, and 4.9). The estimates now available on the MEPS Web site will differ slightly compared to those previously released. Please be advised to use the most recent tables.


MEPS-HC – Expenditure Medical Condition Tables, 1996-2007

Update #10: 07/27/10

Tables affected: All tables in the series.

Issue: The previously released tables included estimates for some cells that were based on sample sizes of fewer than 100 respondents.

Action taken: The algorithm for Tables 1, 2, and 3a was modified so that estimates are suppressed if there are fewer than 100 unweighted persons with at least one medical event associated with the condition and type of service. The algorithm for Tables 3 and 4 was modified so that estimates are suppressed if there are fewer than 100 unweighted persons with at least one medical event associated with the condition. Hence some estimates are now suppressed when the previously released tables included these estimates.

Additionally, Table 3 has been modified to show a percentage distribution of expenses by the type of service instead of showing total expenses by type of service.

Additional updates: Refer to Update #5.


MEPS-HC - Access to Care Tables 4.1, 2005-2007

Update #9: 01/29/10

Tables affected: Table 4.1: Percent of persons unable or delayed in receiving needed medical care, dental care, or prescription medications, United States, 2005-2007. Total number of tables affected: 3.

Issue: The previously released tables contained estimates which included persons less than 18 years old in the education categories. The education categories should have been limited to persons 18 years and older.

Action taken: These tables have been corrected by limiting the estimates for education to persons 18 years and older.


NHEA-Aligned MEPS: Projected Expenditure Data Files: 2002-2016

Update #8: 08/21/09

The core data from the 2002 NHEA-aligned MEPS file are projected to each end year through 2016. For additional details go to NHEA-Aligned MEPS Projected Expenditure Data detail page.

Note, this data release replaces the old 1996-2008 projections and the interim data are no longer available.


MEPS-HC - Health Insurance Coverage Tables 1.a-5.a, 2005-2006

Update #7: 06/19/09

Tables affected: Table 1.a through 5.a Health insurance coverage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population, United States, 2005-2006. Total number of tables affected: 10.

Issue: The previously released set of tables contained estimates limited to persons who were in scope for the full year.

Action taken: The estimates have been revised to include persons not in scope for the full year and are based on the period of eligibility.

Additional updates: Refer to Update #1.


MEPS-HC - State-Level Medical Expenditures Tables 1-4, 2003-2005

Update #6: 01/06/09

A correction has been made to tables 1 through 4 in the State-Level Medical Expenditures series for years 2003 through 2005. These new estimates are based upon revised state-specific sample weights. The weights were revised in December 2008 to improve the estimation of sampling variances and are now available at the AHRQ Data Center. The 2006 State-Level Medical Expenditures series is based on these revised weights.


MEPS-HC - Expenditures by Medical Condition Tables 4, 1996-2005

Update #5: 03/14/08

A correction has been made to Table 4 in the Expenditures by Medical Condition series, for years 1996 through 2005. TRICARE source of payments are now included correctly with private insurance. Before this correction, TRICARE source of payments were included with other source of payments. If you have used this data prior to March 14, 2008, please refer to these tables for the corrected data.


MEPS-HC - Prescribed Drugs/Therapeutic Classes Summary Data Tables

Update #4: 03/05/08

The prescribed drugs by total expenditure and by total purchases have been separated into two individual tables (table numbers 1.1 - 1.2). The therapeutic classes by total expenditure and by total purchases have been separated into two individual tables (table numbers 2.1 - 2.2).


MEPS-HC - Access to Care Summary Data Tables 3, 2002-2004

Update #3: 03/05/08

The 2002 through 2004 table 3 series provides the percent of families in which a member was unable or delayed in receiving needed medical care, dental care, or prescription medications. Starting with the 2005 data the table 3 series will no longer be provided. The table 4 series data provides the percent of persons unable or delayed in receiving needed medical care, dental care, or prescription medications.


Projected Household Expenditures

These tables are no longer available. They have been replaced by NHEA-Aligned MEPS: Projected Expenditure Data Files: 2002-2016

Update #2: 01/25/08

The 1996 through 2008 projected health care expenditures from the MEPS Household Component, previously posted on this Web site, are out-of-date and have been removed from the site. Research efforts are underway to produce new health care expenditure projections through 2016 based on data from the 2002 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey aligned with the 2002 National Health Expenditure Accounts (from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services). Interim results are currently available and can be obtained upon a request to the MEPS Project Director.

Projected expenditure data files and tabular results, based on the final population projections from the Census Bureau should be available in the near future.


MEPS-HC - Health Insurance Coverage Tables 1.a-5.a, all of 2005

Update #1: 07/25/07

Tables affected: Table 1.a through 5.a Health insurance coverage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population, United States, all of 2005. Total number of tables affected: 5.

Issue: Tables have been updated using the full-year 2005 final weight.

Action taken: The tables have been replaced on the MEPS Web site. Each year, tables using the full-year preliminary weight will be posted in May. In July of that same year, preliminary full-year health insurance estimates will be replaced by health insurance estimates generated using the full-year final weight.


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