Notice2026-06193
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
March 31, 2026
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Abstract
This notice announces the intention of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve the revision of the currently approved information collection project "Medical Expenditure Panel Survey--Household Component, OMB No. 0935-0118." This information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on December 30, 2025, and allowed 60 days for public comment. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comment. During the 60-day comment period, AHRQ received three comments. One commenter expressed support for the collection. Another supported inclusion of sleep-related questions and suggested additional items; AHRQ will consider these for future inclusion. A third commenter supported MEPS but raised concerns about removal of questions on sexual orientation and gender identity, birth control counseling, the ESAQ, and the DCS. AHRQ notes that sexual orientation and gender identity questions were removed pursuant to Executive Order 14168. AHRQ continues to propose removal of the birth control counseling question due to space constraints and other priorities. The ESAQ was a one-time, externally funded supplement and will be released as planned. AHRQ also continues to propose removal of the current DCS due to cost, outdated content, and data quality concerns, while considering future updates or alternative modules.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 61 (Tuesday, March 31, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 61 (Tuesday, March 31, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15999-16002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-06193]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the intention of the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) approve the revision of the currently
approved information collection project ``Medical Expenditure Panel
Survey--Household Component, OMB No. 0935-0118.'' This information
collection was previously published in the Federal Register on December
30, 2025, and allowed 60 days for public comment. The purpose of this
notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comment.
During the 60-day comment period, AHRQ received three comments. One
commenter expressed support for the collection. Another supported
inclusion of sleep-related questions and suggested additional items;
AHRQ will consider these for future inclusion.
A third commenter supported MEPS but raised concerns about removal
of questions on sexual orientation and gender identity, birth control
counseling, the ESAQ, and the DCS. AHRQ notes that sexual orientation
and gender identity questions were removed pursuant to Executive Order
14168. AHRQ continues to propose removal of the birth control
counseling question due to space constraints and other priorities. The
ESAQ was a one-time, externally funded supplement and will be released
as planned. AHRQ also continues to propose removal of the current DCS
due to cost, outdated content, and data quality concerns, while
considering future updates or alternative modules.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 30, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Margie Shofer,
Reports Clearance Officer, AHRQ, by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e3b1a6b3acb1b7b0a0afa6a2b1a2ada0a6aca5a5aaa0a6b1a3828b9192cd8b8b90cd848c95"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="792b3c29362b2d2a3a353c382b38373a3c363f3f303a3c2b3918110b085711110a571e160f">[email protected]</span></a>. Find this particular collection
by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for Public
Comments'' or by using the search function.
Copies of the proposed collection plans, data collection
instruments, and specific details on the estimated burden can be
obtained from the AHRQ Reports Clearance Officer.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margie Shofer, AHRQ Reports Clearance
Officer, 301-427-1696 or by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0755425748555354444b424655464944424841414e44425547666f7576296f6f7429606871"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4715021708151314040b020615060904020801010e04021507262f3536692f2f3469202831">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Proposed Project: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey--Household Component
The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), which began in 1996,
is a set of large-scale surveys of families and individuals, their
medical providers (doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, etc.), and employers
across the United States. MEPS collects data on the specific health
services that Americans use, how frequently they use them, the cost of
these services, and how they are paid for, as well as data on the cost,
scope, and breadth of health insurance held by and available to U.S.
workers. MEPS data have become the linchpin for economic health care
use and expenditures models. These data are vital in estimating the
impact of changes in financing, coverage, and reimbursement policy on
the U.S. healthcare system. No other survey provides the foundation for
estimating the impact of changes in national policy on various segments
of the U.S. population. These data continue to be essential for
evaluating healthcare reform policies and analyzing the effect of tax
code changes on healthcare expenditures and tax revenue.
The MEPS-HC and MPC Have the Following Goals
(1) To produce nationally representative estimates of health care
use, expenditures, sources of payment, and health insurance coverage
for the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population.
(2) To produce nationally representative estimates of respondents'
health status, demographic and socio-economic characteristics,
employment, access to care, and satisfaction with health care.
Project Overview
Each year a new panel of sample households is selected. Recent
annual MEPS-HC sample sizes average about 10,350 households. Data can
be analyzed at either the person, family, or event level. The panel
design of the survey, which includes 5 Rounds of interviews covering 2
full calendar years, provides data for examining person level changes
in selected variables such as expenditures, health insurance coverage,
and health status. Using a combination of computer assisted personal
interviewing (CAPI), computer assisted video interviewing (CAVI), and
self-administered paper and web questionnaires, information about each
household member is collected, and the survey builds on this
information from interview to interview. CAVI is a newer data
collection technology and offers the best of both telephone and in-
person interviewing, while offering opportunities for cost savings and
more accurate reporting.
Proposed Revisions
This Information Collection Request (ICR) is for a revision to the
previously approved information collection--0935-0118 Medical
Expenditure Panel Survey--Household Component (MEPS-HC).
These changes will be fielded in the Fall of 2026 and include:
<bullet> MEPS-HC Core Interview--Minor changes to twenty-four
questions include revising language to make the questions clearer for a
better response rate.
<bullet> MEPS Preventive Care Self-Administered Questionnaire
(PSAQ):
[cir] Removing four questions on counseling and treatment, one
question about birth control, two questions about aspirin use, and two
questions about gender.
[cir] Reverting to the question used in the 2022 PSAQ about
respondent sex.
[cir] Replacing two exercise items with five new items for exercise
and strength training.
[[Page 16000]]
[cir] Adding questions about use of sleep medication, trouble
getting to sleep, screen time, use of wearable devices, self-assessed
diet quality, fruit and vegetable consumption, meals eaten away from
home, former smoking, and weight loss attempt.
<bullet> Burdens and Economic Impacts of Medical Care Self-
Administered Questionnaire (ESAQ) and Diabetes Care Supplement (DCS):
Both will be discontinued.
This study is being conducted by AHRQ through its contractors,
Westat for the MEPS-HC and RTI for the MEPS-MPC, pursuant to AHRQ's
statutory authority to conduct and support research on health care and
on systems for the delivery of such care. [42 U.S.C 299a(a)(1) and
(2)], and to conduct a survey on the cost, use, and quality of health
care [42 U.S.C. 299b-2].
Method of Collection
To achieve the goals of this project the following data collections
will be implemented:
Household Component--The MEPS-HC consists of a core interview
administered to all sampled households, supplemental interviews
administered to selected individuals, permission forms, and a
validation interview:
(1) Core MEPS-HC Interview--All sampled households are administered
the Core MEPS interview which collects health, health insurance, and
employment data on all household members.
(2) Adult Self-Administered Questionnaire (Adult SAQ)--Completed by
all adults 18 and older in the household in rounds 2 and 4 in odd
years. Collects a variety of health status and health care quality
measures of adults age 18 and older.
(3) Preventive Care Self-Administered Questionnaire (PSAQ)--
Designed to collect a variety of person-level preventive health care
data for adults 18 years and older.
(4) Authorization Forms for the MEPS-MPC Provider and Pharmacy
Survey--ask respondents for authorization to obtain supplemental
information from their medical providers (hospitals, physicians, home
health agencies and institutions) and pharmacies.
(5) MEPS Validation Interview--Each interviewer is required to have
at least 15 percent of his/her caseload validated to ensure that Core
questionnaire content was asked appropriately and procedures followed,
for example the use of show cards. In excess of this requirement, 100%
of MEPS completed interviews undergo validation efforts. Over 50% of
cases are validated through the use of Westat's Eagle system which
tracks GPS coordinates, matching them to respondent addresses and
interview times. Computer Assisted Recorded Interview (CARI) review
accounts for roughly 40% of MEPS case validation where EAGLE is not
appropriate (CAVI interviews) or is not valid or available. The audio
and screen capture from numerous questions is evaluated to ensure an
interviewer and a respondent follow proper question administration and
show card usage. For cases that cannot be validated using CARI or GPS,
phone validations are conducted to ensure proper procedures and
administration. Mail validations are used as a final measure when other
types of validation have not resulted in a validated case.
Medical Provider Component--The MEPS-MPC is a survey of medical
providers, including office-based doctors, hospitals, home health
providers, and pharmacies, that collects detailed data on the
expenditures and sources of payment for the medical services provided
to individuals sampled for the MEPS. Upon completion of the household
interview and obtaining permission from the household survey
respondents, a sample of medical providers and pharmacies are contacted
by telephone to obtain information that household respondents cannot
accurately provide. The MPC collects information on dates of visits,
diagnosis and procedure codes, charges and payments, and for
pharmacies: dates of fills, ndc (or drug name, strength, dosage),
quantity and days supplied, and payments. There are no changes to the
MPC data collection.
Estimated Annual Respondent Burden
Exhibit 1 shows the estimated annualized burden hours for the
respondents' time to participate in the MEPS-HC and the MEPS-MPC.
MEPS-HC
1. MEPS-HC Core Interview--completed by 10,350 ``family level''
respondents. Since the MEPS-HC typically consists of 5 rounds of
interviewing covering a full two years of data, the annual average
number of responses per respondent is 2.5 responses per year. The MEPS-
HC core requires an average response time of 87 minutes to administer.
2. Adult SAQ--completed once during the 2-year panel, in rounds 2
and 4 during odd numbered years, making the annualized average 0.5
times per year. The Adult SAQ will be completed by 12,395 adults and
requires an average of 7 minutes to complete.
3. PSAQ--completed once during the 2-year panel, in rounds 2 and 4
during even numbered years, making the annualized average 0.5 times per
year. The PSAQ will be completed by 12,395 adults and requires an
average of 7 minutes to complete.
4. Authorization forms for the MEPS-MPC and Pharmacy Survey--
completed by 17,388 individual respondents. Each respondent will
complete an average of 3.6 forms each year, with each form requiring an
average of 3 minutes to complete.
5. Validation interview--conducted with approximately 1,491
respondents each year and requires 5 minutes to complete.
The total annual burden hours for the respondent's time to
participate in the MEPS-HC is estimated to be 42,219 hours.
MEPS-MPC
1. Contact Guide/Screening Call--conducted with 36,370 providers
and pharmacies each year and requires 5 minutes to complete.
2. Home Health Care Providers Event Form--completed by 505
providers, with each provider completing an average of 5.66 forms and
each form requiring 3 minutes to complete.
3. Office-based Providers Event Form--completed by 8,074 providers.
Each provider will complete an average of 3.58 forms, and each form
requires 3 minutes to complete.
4. Separately Billing Doctors Event Form--will be completed by
5,574 providers, with each provider completing 1.13 forms on average,
and each form requiring 3 minutes to complete.
5. Hospital Event Form--completed by 3,482 hospitals or HMOs. Each
hospital or HMO will complete 5.64 forms on average, with each form
requiring 3 minutes to complete.
6. Institutions (non-hospital) Event Form--completed by 103
institutions, with each institution completing 1.25 forms on average,
and each form requiring 3 minutes to complete.
7. Pharmacy Event Form--completed by 2,008 pharmacies. Each
pharmacy will complete 21.15 forms on average, with each form requiring
3 minutes to complete.
The total burden hours for the respondent's time to participate in
the MEPS-MPC is estimated to be 8,045 hours. The total annual burden
hours for the MEPS-HC and MPC is estimated to be 50,264 hours.
[[Page 16001]]
Exhibit 1--MEPS-HC and MPC Estimated Annualized Respondents and Burden Hours
[2026 to 2028]
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Number of Number of
Form name respondents responses per Hours per Total burden
\a\ respondent response hours
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MEPS-HC
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1. MEPS-HC Core Interview............................. 10,350 2.5 87/60 37,519
2. Adult SAQ *........................................ 12,395 0.5 7/60 723
3. Preventive Care SAQ (PSAQ) **...................... 12,395 0.5 7/60 723
4. Authorization forms for the MEPS-MPC Provider and 17,388 3.6 3/60 3,130
Pharmacy Survey......................................
5. MEPS Validation Interview.......................... 1,491 1 5/60 124
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Subtotal for the MEPS-HC.......................... 54,019 .............. .......... 42,219
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MEPS-MPC
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1. Contact Guide/Screening Call....................... 36,370 1 5/60 3,031
2. Home Health Care Providers Event Form.............. 505 5.66 3/60 143
3. Office[dash]based Providers Event Form............. 8,074 3.58 3/60 1,445
4. Separately Billing Doctors Event Form.............. 5,574 1.13 3/60 315
5. Hospitals & HMOs (Hospital Event Form)............. 3,482 5.64 3/60 982
6. Institutions (non-hospital) Event Form............. 103 1.25 3/60 6
7. Pharmacies Event Form.............................. 2,008 21.15 3/60 2,123
---------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal for the MEPS-MPC......................... 56,116 .............. .......... 8,045
---------------------------------------------------------
Grand Total................................... 110,135 .............. .......... 50,264
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* The Adult SAQ is completed once every two years, on the odd numbered years.
** The PSAQ is completed once every two years, on the even numbered years.
Exhibit 2 shows the estimated annual cost burden associated with
the respondents' time to participate in this information collection.
The annual cost burden for the MEPS-HC is estimated to be 2,757,745 and
the annual cost burden for the MEPS-MPC is estimated to be 350,960. The
total annual cost burden for the MEPS-HC and MPC is estimated to be
3,108,705.
Exhibit 2--Estimated Annualized Cost Burden
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Adjusted
Form name Total burden Average hourly hourly wage Total cost
hours wage rate * rate ** burden
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MEPS-HC
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1. MEPS-HC Core Interview............................. 37,519 \a\ 32.66 65.32 2,450,741
2. Adult SAQ *........................................ 723 \a\ 32.66 65.32 47,226
3. Preventive Care SAQ (PSAQ) **...................... 723 \a\ 32.66 65.32 47,226
4. Authorization forms for the MEPS-MPC Provider and 3,130 \a\ 32.66 65.32 204,452
Pharmacy Survey......................................
5. MEPS Validation Interview.......................... 124 \a\ 32.66 65.32 8,100
---------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal for the MEPS-HC.......................... 42,219 .............. .............. 2,757,745
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MEPS-MPC
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1. Contact Guide/Screening Call....................... 3,031 \b\ 21.91 43.82 132,818
2. Home Health Care Providers Event Form.............. 143 \b\ 21.91 43.82 6,266
3. Office[dash]based Providers Event Form............. 1,445 \b\ 21.91 43.82 63,320
4. Separately Billing Doctors Event Form.............. 315 \b\ 21.91 43.82 13,803
5. Hospitals & HMOs (Hospital Event Form)............. 982 \b\ 21.91 43.82 43,301
6. Institutions (non-hospital) Event Form............. 6 \b\ 21.91 43.82 263
7. Pharmacies Event Form.............................. 2,123 \c\ 21.54 43.08 91,459
---------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal for the MEPS-MPC......................... 8,045 .............. .............. 350,960
---------------------------------------------------------
Grand Total................................... 50,264 .............. .............. 3,108,705
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* National Compensation Survey: Occupational wages in the United States May 2024, ``U.S. Department of Labor,
Bureau of Labor Statistics.''
** The Adjusted Hourly Rate was estimated at 200% of the hourly wage.
\a\ Mean hourly wage for All Occupations (00-0000).
\b\ Mean hourly wage for Medical Secretaries (43-6013).
\c\ Mean hourly wage for Pharmacy Technicians (29-2052).
[[Page 16002]]
Request for Comments
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501-
3520, comments on AHRQ's information collection are requested with
regard to any of the following: (a) whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of AHRQ's health
care research and health care information dissemination functions,
including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the
accuracy of AHRQ's estimate of burden (including hours and costs) of
the proposed collection(s) of information; (c) ways to enhance the
quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information upon
the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques
or other forms of information technology.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and included in the Agency's subsequent request for OMB approval of the
proposed information collection. All comments will become a matter of
public record.
Jeffrey Toven,
Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026-06193 Filed 3-30-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-P
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