Attachment 25 – HC Tips for Making Your MEPS Interview Easier

TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR MEPS INTERVIEW EASIER

Use records like these to make it easier to answer the MEPS survey questions:

• Records covering health care appointments for all household members

• A family calendar, or each person’s own calendar

• Electronic calendar in a cell phone, laptop, tablet or IPad, etc

• Appointment cards or email reminders from a medical provider

• Receipts

• Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your health insurance provider

• Computerized health care records, including those from your provider or patient portal

• MEPS monthly planner with your notes added

• Records covering health care received without an appointment

• Emergency Room (ER) or Walk-In Clinic discharge instructions or receipts

• Payment records (e.g., credit card statements, debit card records, checkbook log)

• Health care provider business cards

• Prescription medicine bottles

• Pharmacy print-outs

• Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your health insurance provider

• Lab referral or result records

THANK YOU for gathering this information for all household members!

** Your MEPS interviewer is happy to work with you **

in using these documents during the interview

• Diagnostic tests such as blood work, X-rays, mammograms, MRI or CAT scans

• Vaccinations for children and adults

• Flu shots and allergy shots

• All types of preventative care, including well visits

• Dental check-ups, and orthodontic care (braces)

• Blood pressure checks and other types of heart health monitoring

• Eye exams and prescription glasses or contact lenses

• Counseling and other care from psychologists or mental health specialists

• Physical, speech or occupational therapy

• Chiropractic care, acupuncture, homeopathic or other alternative care

• Prescription medicines including birth control, insulin and diabetic supplies

• Care received at home by visiting nurses or other home health aides

• Phone calls to medical providers or labs to check test results

And much more -- ask your interviewer if you are not sure what to include

Of course, MEPS also counts ….

• Hospital stays, even if just part of a day or longer

• Care received at the Emergency Room or Urgent Care Centers

• Care at walk-in clinics such as clinics at work, or in a pharmacy (Minute Clinics)

• Sick visits to a doctor, nurse or physician assistant

• Pre-natal care, and all other obstetrician/gynecological care

• Pre-op care before surgery, the surgery and the follow-up care

• Cancer treatments including chemotherapy and radiation

• Dialysis and other long term treatments

• Oral surgery

And much more -- ask your interviewer if you are not sure what to include

MEPS counts many things you might not think of as “health care”….

14-453R

Record Keeping Job Aid