Agency for Healthcare 

Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Research and Quality 

STATISTICAL BRIEF #93 

August 2005 

Health Care Expenditures for InjuryRelated Conditions, 2002 Highlights 

Steven R. Machlin, MS

¢ About 1 of every 10 dollars 

spent for medical care 

services in 2002 were for Introduction 

conditions associated with 

This Statistical Brief presents estimates from the Household accidents and injuries 

Component of the 2002 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS- (excluding dental care and 

HC) of spending for direct medical care for health conditions other miscellaneous 

resulting from accidents and injuries (excluding dental care and other expenses). 

miscellaneous expenses). These expenses for injury-related care are 

presented by type of service and source of payment categories, and ¢ Emergency department distributions are compared to those for non-injury-related care. and home health care Expenses for injury-related care are also presented for broad accounted for substantially categories of injury cause.	 larger shares of injuryrelated than non-injury- The estimates are representative of the U.S. civilian noninstitution- related health care alized population and are based on household-reported data on expenses. Conversely, conditions resulting from injury and associated medical care received prescribed medicines for those conditions. Expenses for treatment during the year are accounted for a much included regardless of whether the injury occurred in 2002 or earlier. smaller proportion of Only differences between estimates that are statistically significant injury-related expenses. at the 0.05 level are noted in the text. 

Findings 

¢ Workers’ Compensation 

About $73.4 billion was spent on treatment for injury-related paid for a negligible portion 

conditions for the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population during of non-injury-related 

2002 (figure 1). This accounted for about 1 of every 10 dollars spent expenses but accounted 

(10.1 percent) for medical care services (excluding dental care and	 for approximately 1 of 

other miscellaneous expenses—see Definitions section below). every 10 dollars spent for 

injury-related health care. 

Type of service 

The distribution of injury-related health care expenses by type of 

service differed from the distribution for health care expenses that ¢ Motor vehicle accidents 

were not injury related (figure 1). In particular, the proportion of accounted for the largest 

expenses for emergency department care was more than three times portion of health care 

greater for injury-related care (10.8 percent versus 3.0 percent for expenses for injuries, 

non-injury-related expenses) and more than twice as large for home followed by sports injuries 

health care (9.5 percent versus 4.3 percent for non-injury-related and falls. 

expenses). Conversely, prescribed medicines accounted for a much 

smaller proportion of injury-related expenses (6.4 percent versus 

22.3 percent for non-injury-related expenses). 
The percentage of expenses associated with injuries ranged from only 3.1 percent of all prescribed 

medicine expenditures to one-fifth of all home health care expenses and more than one-quarter of all 

emergency department expenses (figure 2). 

Source of payment 

The distribution of injury-related health care expenses by source of payment also differed from the 

distribution for health care expenses that were not injury related (figure 3). In particular, Workers’ 

Compensation paid for only a negligible portion of non-injury-related expenses (0.8 percent) but 

accounted for about 10 percent of injury-related expenses. Private insurance and out-of-pocket payments 

accounted for smaller proportions of injury-related than other expenses (35.4 versus 42.9 percent for 

private insurance; 10.2 versus 16.1 percent for out-of-pocket payments). 

Less than 10 percent of all out-of-pocket payments (6.6 percent) and of all private insurance payments 

(8.5 percent) were for injury-related care (figure 4). In contrast, 57.3 percent of all payments made by 

Worker’s Compensation programs were for injury-related care. 

Cause of injury 

In 2002, motor vehicle accidents accounted for the largest portion of health care expenses for injuries 

(37.1 percent), followed by sports injuries (21.5 percent) and falls (6.8 percent) (figure 5). The remaining 

34.6 percent of injury-related expenses were associated with a variety of factors, including weapons, 

poisonings, fire, water accidents, and other miscellaneous causes. 

Data Source 

The estimates in this Statistical Brief are based upon data from the 2002 MEPS Full Year Consolidated 

Data File (HC-070), Medical Conditions Data File (HC-069), and Medical Events Files (HC-067A and HC067D–G). 

Definitions 

Injury-related condition 

For each medical condition identified in either the Condition Enumeration, Medical Events, or Disability 

Days sections of the MEPS questionnaire, respondents were asked whether the condition was due to an 

accident or injury. Conditions for which there was a positive response to this question were classified as 

injury-related. 

Expenditures 

Expenditures (also referred to as expenses) for injuries include payments from all sources to hospitals, 

physicians, other medical care providers, and pharmacies for services received for injury-related 

conditions reported by respondents in the MEPS-HC. Sources include direct payments from individuals, 

private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, Workers’ Compensation, and miscellaneous other sources. 

Expenditures for hospital-based services include those for both facility and separately billed physicians’ 

services. MEPS does not collect data on payments for over-the-counter-drugs, alternative care services, 

or telephone contacts with medical providers. 

Expenses for treatment during the year are included regardless of whether the injury occurred in 2002 or 

earlier. Moreover, expenses for injuries may be slightly overstated since some medical events that were 

identified as associated with an accident/injury may have also involved care for other conditions that were 

not related to the accident/injury. 

In contrast to complete MEPS expenditure estimates, this brief excludes expenses for dental services, 

durable medical equipment, and other miscellaneous items (eyeglasses, contact lenses, ambulance 

services, orthopedic items, hearing devices, prostheses, bathroom aids, medical equipment, disposable 

supplies, and other miscellaneous items or services) because it was not possible to determine from the 

2002 survey questions which of these expenses were associated with injuries. 
Type of service 

The following categories of expenses are included in this brief: 

– Hospital inpatient services: This category includes room and board and all hospital diagnostic and 

laboratory expenses associated with the basic facility charge, payments for separately billed physician 

inpatient services, and some emergency room expenses incurred immediately prior to inpatient stays. 

– Ambulatory services: This category includes expenses for visits to medical providers seen in officebased settings as well as expenses for visits to both physicians and other medical providers seen in 

hospital outpatient departments, including payments for services covered under the basic facility charge 

and those for separately billed physician services. 

– Emergency department services: This category includes payments for services covered under the basic 

facility charge and those for separately billed physician services but excludes expenses for emergency 

room services followed by a hospital admission. 

– Prescribed medicines: This category includes expenses for all prescribed medications that were initially 

purchased or refilled during the year, as well as expenses for diabetic supplies. 

– Home health services: This category includes expenses for care provided by home health agencies and 

independent home health providers. Agency providers accounted for a large majority of the expenses in 

this category. 

Source of payment 

– Out-of-pocket: This category includes expenses paid by the user or other family member. 

– Private insurance: This category includes payments made by insurance plans covering hospital and 

medical care (excluding payments from Medicare, Medicaid, and other public sources). Payments from 

Medigap plans or TRICARE (Armed Forces–related coverage) are included. Payments from plans that 

provide coverage for a single service only, such as dental or vision coverage, are not included. 

– Medicare: Medicare is a federally financed health insurance plan for the elderly, persons receiving 

Social Security disability payments, and most persons with end-stage renal disease. Medicare Part A, 

which provides hospital insurance, is automatically given to those who are eligible for Social Security. 

Medicare Part B provides supplementary medical insurance that pays for medical expenses and can be 

purchased for a monthly premium. 

– Medicaid: Medicaid is a means-tested government program jointly financed by Federal and State funds 

that provides health care to those who are eligible. Program eligibility criteria vary significantly by State, 

but the program is designed to provide health coverage to families and individuals who are unable to 

afford necessary medical care. 

– Workers’ Compensation: Workers’ Compensation is a system, required by law, of compensating 

workers injured or disabled in connection with work. This system establishes the liability of an employer 

for injuries or sickness arising over and in the course of employment. The benefits under this system 

generally include hospital and other medical payments and compensation for loss of income. 

– Other sources: This category includes payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs (except 

TRICARE); other Federal sources (Indian Health Service, military treatment facilities, and other care 

provided by the Federal Government); various State and local sources (community and neighborhood 

clinics, State and local health departments, and State programs other than Medicaid); various 

unclassified sources (e.g., automobile, homeowner’s, or other liability insurance, and other 

miscellaneous or unknown sources); Medicaid payments reported for persons who were not reported 

as enrolled in the Medicaid program at any time during the year; and private insurance payments 

reported for persons without any reported private health insurance coverage during the year. 
About MEPS-HC 

MEPS-HC is a nationally representative longitudinal survey that collects detailed information on health 

care utilization and expenditures, health insurance, and health status, as well as a wide variety of social, 

demographic, and economic characteristics for the civilian noninstitutionalized population. It is 

cosponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Center for Health 

Statistics. 

For more information about MEPS, call the MEPS information coordinator at AHRQ (301-427-1656) or 

visit the MEPS Web site at http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/. 

References 

For a detailed description of the MEPS survey design, sample design, and methods used to minimize 

sources of nonsampling error, see the following publications: 

Cohen, J. Design and Methods of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component. MEPS 

Methodology Report No. 1. AHCPR Pub. No. 97-0026. Rockville, Md.: Agency for Health Care Policy and 

Research, 1997. 

Cohen, S. Sample Design of the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component. MEPS 

Methodology Report No. 2. AHCPR Pub. No. 97-0027. Rockville, Md.: Agency for Health Care Policy and 

Research, 1997. 

Cohen, S. Design Strategies and Innovations in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Medical Care, 

July 2003: 41(7) Supplement: III-5–III-12. 

Suggested Citation 

Machlin, S. Health Care Expenditures for Injury-Related Conditions, 2002. Statistical Brief #93. August 

2005. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, Md. 

http://meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/datafiles/publications/st93/stat93.pdf 

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AHRQ welcomes questions and comments from readers of this publication who are interested in 

obtaining more information about access, cost, use, financing, and quality of health care in the United 

States. We also invite you to tell us how you are using this Statistical Brief and other MEPS data and 

tools and to share suggestions on how MEPS products might be enhanced to further meet your needs. 

Please e-mail us at mepspd@ahrq.gov or send a letter to the address below: 

Steven B. Cohen, PhD 

Director 

Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends 

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 

540 Gaither Road 

Rockville, MD 20850 
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i

35.4% 

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Note: Denta care and other m scellaneous expenses are not inc uded. 

Source: Center for F nancing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2002 

Injury-related conditions 

10.8% 

36.4% 

36.9% 

6.4% 

9.5% 

Ambulatory Emergency Department Hospital Inpat ent Home Health Prescribed Medicines 

Figure 1. Distribution of health care expenditures, 

by type of service, 2002 

Other conditions 

3.0% 

35.0% 

4.3% 22.3% 

Tota =$73.4 billion Tota =$654.9 bil ion 

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0 

5 

10 

15 

20 

25 

30 

i I i i

i

Note: Denta care and other m scellaneous expenses are not inc uded. 

Source: Center for F nancing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2002 

3.1 

10.4 

20.0 

28.4 

10.5 10.1 

All Types Ambulatory Emergency 

Department 

Hosp tal npat ent Home Health Prescr bed 

Medic nes 

Percent 

Figure 2. Percentage of expenses for injury-related 

conditions, by type of service, 2002 
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i

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l l li

Note: Denta care and other m scellaneous expenses are not inc uded. 

Source: Center for F nancing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2002 

Injury-related conditions 

24.5% 

13.0% 

7.2% 

10.2% 

9.5% 

35.4% 

Out-of-Pocket Med care Med caid Private Workers' Compensation Other 

Figure 3. Distribution of health care expenditures, 

by source of payment, 2002 

Other conditions 

24.2% 

11.3% 

4.6% 

42.9% 

0.8% 

16.1% 

Tota =$73.4 billion Tota =$654.9 bil on 

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0 

10 

20 

30 

40 

50 

60 

i

i

Note: Denta care and other m scellaneous expenses are not inc uded. 

Source: Center for F nancing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2002 

57.3 

14.9 

11.4 

8.5 

10.2 

6.6 10.1 

All Sources Out-of-Pocket Med care Medicaid Private 

Insurance 

Workers' 

Compensat on 

Other 

Percent 

Figure 4. Percentage of expenses for injury-related 

conditions, by source of payment, 2002 
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i

Note: Denta care and other m scellaneous expenses are not inc uded. 

Source: Center for F nancing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2002 

Total=$73.4 billion 

21.5% 

6.8% 

37.1% 

34.6% 

Vehicle Accidents Sports Injuries Falls Other 

Figure 5. Distribution of expenses for injury-related 

conditions, by cause, 2002