This study assess the quality of household reports in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) and its impact on descriptive and behavioral analyses.  The authors conclude household respondents accurately report inpatient hospitalizations but under-report emergency department and office visits but that such underreporting would have little effect on cross-cutting behavioral analyses. 

Zuvekas, S. H. and Olin, G.L. (2009). Validating household reports of health care use in the medical expenditure panel survey. Health Services Research, 44(5 Pt 1): 1679-700. DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-6773.2009.00995.x http://www.hsr.org/hsr/abstract.jsp?aid=44912215406 

Authors: Samuel H. Zuvekas, Gary L. Olin