Description

For all persons, HPPREXT captures the sum of direct payments for "separately billing doctor" or SBD expenses for hospital visits during the year. SBD expenses include services provided to patients in hospital settings by providers whose charges are often not included in hospital bills, like radiologists, anesthesiologists, and pathologists. 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 and charge data, please refer to our user note on medical expenditures.

Related variables
Variables related to total annual health care charges by source of payment, total annual health care charges by type of medical service, and analogous information for health care expenditures are also available. Please refer to our user note on medical expenditures for a list of these variables.

HPPREXT is a 6-digit numeric variable.

Comparability

This variable is completely comparable over time.

Universe

Availability

• 1996-2021

Weights

• 1996-2021 : PERWEIGHT

Flags