Description

For other medical expenses (EVENTYPE), OMTYPEX reports the type of other medical expense after editing by AHRQ. The categories for the type of other medical expense have changed over time, see the comparability tab for more details.

IPUMS MEPS reports the universe for each variable based on a thorough review of the original MEPS documentation. Investigating the data may reveal cases that do not meet the stated universe. Users are encouraged to validate universes for their analyses.

OMTYPEX is on the event record (see RECTYPE for more details on the different record types in IPUMS MEPS). Variables offered on the event record through IPUMS MEPS are derived from the dental visits, other medical expenses, hospital inpatient stays, emergency room visits, outpatient visits, office-based medical provider visits, and home health event files provided by AHRQ. Please see our overview of the event, medical conditions, and prescribed medicines variables, including how those variables are offered through IPUMS MEPS, and general considerations to keep in mind when conducting analyses using these variables.

Comparability

Other than changes in response categories there are no comparability issues. In 2017, several categories that were previously identified separately were collapsed into the category "Long-term medical equipment" (60). Codes beginning with a "6" (i.e., codes 61-66) indicate that the category was collapsed into the "Long-term medical equipment" category in 2017.

Additionally, "Insulin" (20) and "Diabetic equipment/supplies" (30) were included in the other medical expenses file from 1996-2004. They were excluded beginning in 2005 because those expenditures have always been included in the prescribed medicines record.

Universe

Availability

• 1996-2017

Weights

• 1996-2017 : PERWEIGHT

Flags