Description
For all persons, DVGEXTR captures the sum of direct payments made by TRICARE (formerly CHAMPUS) for dental care provided by general dentists during the year. Refer to the comparability tab for information on how the specific sources of payment included in DVGEXTR change over time. Payments for over-the-counter drugs and indirect payments not related to specific medical events, such as Medicaid Disproportionate Share and Medicare Direct Medical Education subsidies, are not included in this amount. For more information on how MEPS collects expenditure data, please refer to our user note on medical expenditures.
For a small proportion of sample persons, the sum of the general dentist (DVGTOTVIS) and orthodontist visit (DVOTOTVIS) variables may not be equal to the total number of dental visits. This result can only occur for persons who were reported to have seen both a general dentist and orthodontist in the same visit(s). When this occurred, expenditures for the visit were included as orthodontist expenses (DVOEXTOT) but not as general dentist expenses (DVGEXTOT).
Variables related to total annual health care expenditures by source of payment, total annual health care expenditures by type of medical service, and total annual health care charges are also available. Please refer to our user note on expenditures for a list of these variables.
DVGEXTR is a 6-digit numeric variable.
Comparability
This variable is mostly comparable over time. Prior to 2009, DVGEXTR includes direct payments for health care from TRICARE, including CHAMPVA. Beginning in 2009, DVGEXTR excludes direct payments from CHAMPVA; instead, direct payments from CHAMPVA are included in DVGEXVA for 2009-forward.
Universe
- 2000-2016: All persons.
Availability
- 2000-2016
Weights
- 2000-2016 : PERWEIGHT
