Description
For all current conditions, DUIDX reports the identifier assigned by MEPS to the person's Dwelling Unit (DU), sampled for MEPS data collection. DUIDX is a random ID number assigned after the DU was sampled for MEPS and does not change once assigned. The MEPS sample is a subset of households that participated in the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).
DU definitions are generally consistent with NHIS definitions of households. For example, the 2018 NHIS Survey Description document describes households as "occupied housing units" (p. 10) that exclude "long-term care institutions (for example, nursing homes for the elderly, hospitals for the chronically ill or physically or intellectually disabled, and wards for abused or neglected children), correctional facilities (for example, prisons or jails, juvenile detention centers, and halfway houses)." (p. 8). Additionally, "unless one other family member is a civilian eligible for the survey (for example, a child whose parents are both active-duty military)" (p. 8), housing units occupied by active-duty Armed Forces personnel are also excluded from the survey.
From 1996-2017, DUIDX is unique within panel, but must be combined with PANELX to be unique across panels. Starting in 2018, DUIDX begins with the 2-digit variable PANELX, making DUIDX unique across panels. DUIDX can be combined with PIDX to uniquely identify each person within the Dwelling Unit. Please see the user note for more information on the relationship between Dwelling Units, families, Reporting Units, and persons.
DUIDX is a numeric variable ranging in width from 1 to 7 digits.
Universe
- 1996-2017: All current conditions.
- 2018-2021: All current conditions that link to an event or prescribed medicine record during the calendar year.
Availability
- 1996-2021
Weights
- No weights are available for this variable. Please refer to DUIDX for more information.
