Improving response rates and representativity in the CPI medical care index

Respondents’ low response rates that affect not only sample size but also sample composition have emerged as a central challenge in measuring consumer price change for medical care. In the case of medical care, insufficient responses from respondents have made getting an accurate mix of prices by payer type (self-pay, insurance, Medicare Part B) more difficult. This article summarizes recent methodological improvements to the medical care index that address a decline in response rates over the last two decades and an overrepresentation of self-pay price quotes.