Attachment 4 – HC What MEPS tells us about…Charts

What MEPS tells us about . . . children

• Of the five most costly conditions for children, mental disorders affect the fewest children but account for most of the spending.

• The least expensive condition to treat for children is ear infections.

• Almost 24 million children had some type of respiratory condition in 2011, and about half of those kids had Asthma or similar chronic respiratory condition.

What MEPS tells us about … children

• General guidelines suggest children 2 years old and older visit the dentist two times a year.

• However, in 2011, only about half of all children in that age group had at least one dental checkup. Which means about half of 2 – 17 year old children did not have any dental check-ups in 2011.

• In 2011, there was little variation by race or ethnicity in the percentage of children with at least one dental check-up.

• A little less than half of Hispanic children and black children reported having at least one dental check-up in 2011.

• A little over half of white, non-Hispanic children had at least one dental checkup in 2011.

What MEPS tells us about … young men

• In 2011, slightly more men between 18 and 39 received treatment for mental conditions than trauma related disorders, such as injuries from car accidents or sports.

• For men ages 18 to 39, it cost a little over 1 billion more dollars to treat mental disorders than trauma related disorders such as injuries from car accidents or sports.

• In 2011, treating trauma-related disorders in men 18-39 years old cost more than treating asthma and bronchitis combined.

What MEPS tells us about … young women

• In 2011, more money was spent on care associated with child birth than other health care for women ages 18-39.

• However, almost 2 million more women between the ages of 18-39 received gynecological care, including contraception, than women who gave birth.

• In 2011, for women ages 18 to 39, giving birth cost nearly $29 billion more than care for mental disorders, the second most costly condition.

What MEPS tells us about … seniors

• Over half of all adults 65 and older had 5 or more visits to a health provider office in 2010.

• More than 2/3 of seniors with heart disease saw a health care provider 5 or more times in 2010.

• In 2010, adults ages 65 or older with heart disease were two times more likely to have at least one emergency room visit than seniors without heart disease.

• For adults ages 65 or older, having heart disease meant you were much more likely than those without heart disease to have a large number of office visits, inpatient hospital stays and emergency room visits.

What MEPS tells us about … chronic conditions

• Over half of all money spent on health care for adults is for treating chronic conditions (55%) such as diabetes or asthma.

• 80% of all money spent on prescription medicines was for treating chronic conditions.

• A little more than 3/4 of all money spent on home health care was for treating chronic conditions.

• Less than 1/3 of all money spent on emergency room visits is associated with treating chronic conditions.

What MEPS tells us about … chronic conditions

• Together ambulatory care (care received other than as a hospital stay) and prescription medicine make up nearly two thirds of all money spent for treating chronic conditions for adults ages 18 or older.

• In 2011, for adults with chronic conditions, about 27 billion more dollars were spent on dental care than hospital inpatient stays.

• Only 6% of expenditures on adults with chronic conditions are for inpatient hospital stays.

What MEPS tells us about … usual care

• Most people who do not have a usual health care provider say it is because they seldom or rarely get sick, regardless of their insurance status.

• Among the uninsured, cost is another reason for not having a usual health care provider.

14-714R.8