Data Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
This measure is the percentage of people who reported difficulty seeing a specialist among those who self-report needing specialty care in the prior 12 months. The numerator of the ratio is the number of people for whom it was never or only sometimes easy to see a specialist (2008 and onward) or a big problem or a small problem to see a specialist (2000-2007). The denominator is the number of people who self-report needing specialty care in the prior 12 months.
For more information on how ethnicity was defined, please see the Glossary under Help.
Last updated 18 Apr 2012
For more information on how race was defined, please see the Glossary under Help.
Last updated 18 Apr 2012
For more information on how metropolitan status was defined, please see the Glossary under Help.
Last updated 18 Apr 2012
For more information on how chronic conditions were defined, please see the Glossary under Help.
Last updated 18 Apr 2012
For more information on how regions are defined, please see the Glossary under Help.
Last updated 18 Apr 2012
Measure Methodology Change: From 2000-2007, the numerator is those who reported a big problem or a small problem to see a specialist. In 2008 and onward, the numerator of the measure is the number of people who reported it was never or only sometimes easy to see a specialist (2008-).
Â
Inclusion Criteria: This measure includes people in the civilian non-institutionalized population who thought they needed to see, or whose doctor thought they needed to see a specialist. The Self Administered Questionnaire was administered to those 18 years and older.
Exclusion Criteria: Excluded from this measure are people in the military and the institutionalized population. Also excluded are people who did not think they needed to see a specialist, and whose doctor did not think they needed to see a specialist in the past 12 months. Those aged 0-17 are excluded.