The MEPS-HC was not primarily designed to facilitate state- or local-level estimation; the smallest geographic region available in the MEPS-HC data files is census region (Northeast, Midwest, South, and West). Statisticians and other researchers at AHRQ are researching small area estimation techniques in order to produce state-level estimates. State-level medical expenditure tables for those states with sufficient samples are now available and several
MEPS Statistical Briefs are now available with health care expenditure estimates for the 10 largest states.