This brief identifies state-level information currently available from seven federal surveys to help states monitor the impact of health reform and to compare the impacts of reform across states.  The brief provides an overview of the health insurance coverage and the health care access, use and cost questions included in each of the surveys.

State-level information is needed to plan for implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and to monitor its impacts over time. Understanding the state-level impacts of the ACA will contribute to better understanding the overall impact of the law on the nation, identifying and addressing any unintended effects, and ensuring that the reforms included in the law are sustainable over time. Existing federal surveys have potential to be a valuable resource for states that do not conduct their own surveys, as well as for making state-to-state comparisons.

It also includes information on survey design and sample sizes, including sample sizes by state, for the American Community Survey (ACS), Current Population Survey (CPS), National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), Medical Expenditure Panel Survey-Household Component (MEPS-HC), Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), and Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP).