National Medical Expenditure Survey, 1987: Survey of American Indians and Alaska Natives, Population Data, Data from the Health Status Questionnaire and Access to Care Supplement, and Expenditures and Sources of Payment Data [Public Use Tape 37]

The National Medical Expenditure Survey (NMES) series provides information on health expenditures by or on behalf of families and individuals, the financing of these expenditures, and each person's use of services. The Survey of American Indians and Alaska Natives (SAIAN) was designed in collaboration with the Indian Health Service (IHS), and used the same data collection instruments, interview procedures, and time frame as the NMES Household Survey component. However, the SAIAN differed from the Household Survey in several respects. The SAIAN sample was interviewed only three times and was not given the supplements on long-term care, caregiving, and care-receiving. Also, SAIAN respondents were asked additional questions on topics such as use of IHS facilities and traditional medicine, and were given a modified self-administered questionnaire with separate versions for adults and children. Interviewers for the SAIAN were mainly American Indians or Alaska Natives, and about 20 percent of the interviews were not conducted entirely in English. Of these, approximately 40 percent were conducted entirely in the native language of the respondent. Public Use Tape 37 contains the final 1987 calendar year SAIAN data, and updates all previous releases of SAIAN data. Variables include population characteristics (demographic information, native language, household composition, employment, health insurance, eligibility status) health statistics (medical conditions, illnesses, limitations on activities, vaccinations), prescribed medicines (dates medication last taken, name of medication prescribed, number of medication purchases made during the year), home health care, medical items purchased, rented, or otherwise obtained, type of traditional medical practitioner seen by respondent, type of service obtained during dental visits, inpatient hospital stays (reason for entry, surgery performed, days and nights in hospital, date entered and discharged), ambulatory visits and telephone calls to physicians' offices, visits to hospital outpatient departments, and visits to hospital emergency rooms.