Using administrative data to look at changes in the level and distribution of out-of-pocket medical expenditure: An example using Medicare data from Australia

Abstract

Objectives Australia's universal health insurance system Medicare generates very large amounts of data on out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE), but only highly aggregated statistics are routinely published. Our primary purpose is to develop indices from the Medicare administrative data to quantify changes in the level and distribution of OOPE on out-of-hospital medical services over time. Methods Data were obtained from the Australian Hypertension and Absolute Risk Study, which involved patients aged 55 years and over (n = 2653). Socio-economic and clinical information was collected and linked to Medicare records over a five-year period from March 2008. The Fisher price and quantity indices were..