Data Alert for RAND HRS, Version L (February 2012)

We released Version L of the RAND HRS dataset in December 2011. Since then, with the assistance of other users, we have discovered some inconsistencies that have now been corrected.

The RAND HRS data files, including the codebook, will be updated on the HRS web site in the data download area. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. Please let us know if you have any questions by emailing RANDHRSHelp@rand.org.

In the process of updating the following variables, we inadvertently did not incorporate the medical expenditure and utilization data from Ahead 1995:

Medical Expenditure and Utilization in Ahead 1995 (wave3)

Medical expenditures: Out of Pocket and Total

R3TOTMD:W3 Total med expenses, prv 2 yrs 	S3TOTMD:W3 Total med expenses, prv 2 yrs 

This problem affected 7005 cases for the respondent variables, and 3594 cases for the spouse variables. The amounts were missing for these cases but are now present.

Medical care utilization: Nursing Home

R3NRSHOM:W3 Nurs home stay, prv 2 yrs     	S3NRSHOM:W3 Nurs home stay, prv 2 yrs   

This problem affected 6748 cases for the respondent variables, and 3540 cases for the spouse variables. The data were missing for these cases but are now present.

R3NRSNIT:W3 # Nights in nurs home, prv 2 yrs	S3NRSNIT:W3 # Nights in nurs home, prv 2 yrs

This problem affected 6979 cases for the respondent variables, and 3590 cases for the spouse variables. The data were missing for these cases but are now present.

And in the following variables, this problem affected 7027 cases for the respondent variables, and 3704 cases for the spouse variables. The data were missing for these cases but are now present.

Medical expenditures: Out of Pocket and Total

R3OOPMD:W3 Out of pkt med exp, prv 2 yrs    	S3OOPMD:W3 Out of pkt med exp, prv 2 yrs    
R3OOPMDF:W3 Out of pkt imputed              	S3OOPMDF:W3 Out of pkt imputed              
R3TOTMDF:W3 Total med imputed               	S3TOTMDF:W3 Total med imputed               

Medical care utilization: Hospital

R3HOSP:W3 Hospital stay, prv 2 yrs          	S3HOSP:W3 Hospital stay, prv 2 yrs       
R3HSPTIM:W3 # Hospital stays, prv 2 yrs     	S3HSPTIM:W3 # Hospital stays, prv 2 yrs     
R3HSPNIT:W3 # Nights in hosp, prv 2 yrs     	S3HSPNIT:W3 # Nights in hosp, prv 2 yrs     

Medical care utilization: Nursing Home

R3NRSTIM:W3 # Nurs home stays, prv 2 yrs    	S3NRSTIM:W3 # Nurs home stays, prv 2 yrs    

Medical care utilization: Doctor

R3DOCTOR:W3 Doctor visit, prv 2 yrs        	S3DOCTOR:W3 Doctor visit, prv 2 yrs         
R3DOCTIM:W3 # Doctor vists, prv 2 yrs       	S3DOCTIM:W3 # Doctor vists, prv 2 yrs    

Medical care utilization: Other Medical Care Utilization

R3OUTPT:W3 Outpatient surgry, prv 2 yrs     	S3OUTPT:W3 Outpatient surgry, prv 2 yrs                                       
R3DENTST:W3 Dental visit, prv 2 yrs         	S3DENTST:W3 Dental visit, prv 2 yrs                                                   
R3DRUGS:W3 Reg take Rx, Prv 2 yrs           	S3DRUGS:W3 Reg take Rx, Prv 2 yrs    
R3SPCFAC:W3 Spec hlth facilty, prv 2 yrs    	S3SPCFAC:W3 Spec hlth facilty, prv 2 yrs                             
R3HOMCAR:W3 Home hlth care, prv 2 yrs       	S3HOMCAR:W3 Home hlth care, prv 2 yrs