TY - JOUR TI - Challenges and solutions in constructing a microsimulation model of the use and costs of medical services in Australia AU - Lymer, Sharyn AU - Brown, Laurie AU - Harding, Ann AU - Payne, Alicia VL - 4 IS - 3 PY - 2011 DA - 2011/12/31 SP - 17-31 C1 - IJM 2011;4(3):17-31 DO - 10.34196/ijm.00057 UR - https://doi.org/10.34196/ijm.00057 AB - This paper describes the development of a microsimulation model ‘HealthMod’ which simulates the use and costs of medical and related services by Australian families. Australia has a universal social insurance scheme known as ‘Medicare’ which provides all Australians with access to free or low-cost essential medical services. These services are provided primarily by general practitioners as well as specialist doctors but also include diagnostic and imaging services. Individuals may pay a direct out-of pocket contribution if fees charged for services are higher than the reimbursement schedule set by government. HealthMod is based on the Australian 2001 National Health Survey. This survey had a number of deficiencies in terms of modelling the national medical benefits scheme. The article outlines three major methodological steps that had to be taken in the model construction: the imputation of synthetic families, the imputation of short-term health conditions, and the annualisation of doctor visits and costs. Some preliminary results on the use of doctor services subsidised through Australia’s Medicare are presented. KW - economic microsimulation modelling KW - medical services KW - use and costs KW - Australia JF - IJM SN - 1747-5864 PB - International Journal of Microsimulation ER -