Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Household Component (HC)
The MEPS provides information about the current state of the health care system as well as to track changes over time. The MEPS permits annual estimates of use of health care and expenditures and sources of payment for that health care. It also permits tracking individual change in employment, income, health insurance and health status over two years. Households selected for participation in the MEPS-HC are interviewed five times in person.
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Medical Provider Component (MPC)
For a sample of those who participate in the MEPS HC, the MEPS-MPC contacts medical providers (hospitals, physicians, home health agencies and institutions) identified by household respondents in the MEPS-HC as sources of medical care for the time period covered by the interview, and all pharmacies providing prescription drugs to household members during the covered time period..
Since the previous OMB Clearance request for the MEPS, the MEPS-HC has had a number of changes to the survey instrument itself and the survey administration in an effort to increase data quality, decrease respondent burden and to simplify instrument administration. The current request includes a burden reduction due to a reduction in sample size necessary to accommodate the new NHIS design while maintaining the precision level necessary for MEPS estimates.
US Code:
42 USC 299
Name of Law: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Act of 1999
The total estimated annual burden hours for the MEPS have been decreased from 86,702 hours in the previous clearance to 77,666 hours in this clearance request, a decrease of 9,036 hours.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.