Save the Date for MEPS Data Users' Workshop

Save the Date for MEPS Data Users' Workshop

SAVE THE DATE

AHRQ will be conducting a two-day hands-on MEPS Data Users’ Workshop in Rockville, MD, on September 12-13, 2016.

Day 1 of this workshop will consist of lectures designed to provide a general overview of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)https://meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/ along with lectures on MEPS-HC survey design, file content and statistical issues and challenges as well as on health care utilization, expenditures, and medical conditions.

Day 2 of the workshop is intended to give hands-on experience to participants and is extremely useful to the users who either have started analyzing MEPS data or planning to do so. The participants will learn how to identify and assemble variables to build a data file to answer their research questions. Sample SAS as well as STATA exercises will be demonstrated by experienced MEPS data programmers. The afternoon is set aside for open discussion and for answering specific research questions from participants. A laptop computer will be available for each participant with SAS installed on it. Those who wish to bring their own laptop should indicate on the registration form.

It’s not mandatory to attend both days, but in order to attend the 2^nd day; participants must attend the first day of the workshop.

The workshop is offered free of charge.

A full program description, registration form, and logistical information will be available by late-July on the Workshops & Events page of the MEPS Web site at http://meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/about_meps/workshops_events.jsp.

For any other questions, please e-mail workshopinfo@ahrq.hhs.gov.

In addition to the MEPS workshop, AHRQ will offer on September 13, 2016 a hands-on one-day workshop on the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), focusing on its new Nationwide Readmissions Database. Together, these two workshops provide an excellent opportunity to learn about both AHRQ data sources. A separate registration is needed to attend each workshop. Registration for the HCUP workshop will also open by late July. Information about the HCUP workshop will be posted on the HCUP User Support Websitehttp://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/.