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.