Description

For all medication-round fills, RXFEXPTOT captures the total amount paid for the prescribed medicine fill by all sources. For more information on how MEPS collects expenditure data, please refer to our user note on medical expenditures.

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.

Expenditure variables on the medication-round fill record do not incorporate any manufacturer discounts, coupons, or other rebates reported by pharmacies, because the manufacturer is paying itself. Free drugs, write-offs, and discounts from commercial pharmacies are not counted in expenditures, although these free drugs are on the medication-round fill record. Free drugs, write-offs, and discounts from safety net providers and government pharmacies are included in expenditures because they are paid with public sector funds.

RXFEXPTOT is on the medication-round fill record (see RECTYPE for more details on the different record types in IPUMS MEPS). Variables offered on the medication-round fill record through IPUMS MEPS are derived from the prescribed medicines file 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.

RXFEXPTOT is a 10-digit numeric variable with 2 implied decimal places. That is, values of 1234567899 should be interpreted as 12,345,678.99. The IPUMS command files automatically divide by 100, so no further adjustment is needed.

Comparability

This variable is completely comparable over time.

Universe

Availability

• 1996-2021

Weights

• 1996-2021 : PERWEIGHT

Flags