Comparing Health Insurance Measurement Error (CHIME)

The purpose of this study is to assess survey data measurement error that is ascribable to questionnaire design across health insurance modules. CHIME uses administrative data as a truth source, focusing on the Current Population Survey (CPS) and the American Community Survey (ACS). These two Census surveys are the most widely used data sources for state and national health policy analysis. The goal of the project is to understand the patterns, magnitude, and direction of misreporting in the CPS and ACS. By improving understanding of measurement error in two prominent federal surveys, CHIME can potentially reduce this error, provide the Census Bureau with data to improve measurement, equip research communities to understand which surveys best suit their data needs, and improve policy analysts’ confidence in Census data for national and state policy evaluation. The University of Minnesota and Medica are partnering on this project.