Reconciling Medical Expenditure Estimates from the MEPS and the NHA, 1996

Authors:
  • KLKatharine R. Levit
    Katharine R. Levit
  • JCJoel W. Cohen
    Joel W. Cohen
  • SZSamuel H. Zuvekas
    Samuel H. Zuvekas
  • JMJohn F. Moeller
    John F. Moeller
  • DMDavid McKusick
    David McKusick
  • RARoss H. Arnett
    Ross H. Arnett
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  • 1 January 2001
    • journal article
    • research article
Abstract
This article compares 1996 estimates of national medical care expenditures from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) and the National Health Accounts (NHA). The MEPS estimate for total expenditures in 1996 was $548 billion; whereas, the NHA estimate for personal health care (PHC) in 1996 was $912 billion. Much of this apparent difference, however, arises from differences in scope between MEPS and NHA—rather than from differences in estimates for comparably-defined expenditures. We adjusted the NHA for differences in included populations and types of services covered, finding a much smaller difference between MEPS and a comparably-defined NHA.