MATCH Sample Frame Consultation

Harpers Ferry view from Maryland Heights, West Virginia, USA

Problem

West Virginia needed a county-level picture of how its health programs and services were affecting the lives of West Virginia’s children and adults.

In 2021, West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) partnered with West Virginia University (WVU) Health Affairs Institute to conduct the first Mountain State Assessment of Trends in Community Health (MATCH) survey. The goal of MATCH is to better understand the health and well-being challenges of West Virginians and match communities with needed resources. As part of that, the study was designed to conduct approximately 20,000 completed interviews to produce estimates for all of West Virginia’s 55 counties, including the most rural counties. The 2021 round of data collection experienced challenges regarding eligibility, response, and sampling efficiency, and so our job was to advise and consult on potential improvements.

Solution

NORC used the Medicaid frame to better identify and obtain minority and low-income populations for the 2023-2024 MATCH sample design.

WVU Health Affairs Institute partnered with NORC to consult on sample frame creation and data collection methodology for the 2023-2024 round of MATCH. The 2023-2024 sample frame is a combination of a statewide address-based sample and the state’s Medicaid records with geographic and model-based targeting. Our use of the Medicaid frame along with indicators on the address-based sample helped to better identify and obtain minority and low-income populations across the state. As such our expertise in geographic and model-based targeting improved both response rates and respondent composition.

Result

The improved sample design will better inform public health research across the state.

Given successes with the 2023-2024 design, NORC continues to collaborate with the WVU Health Affairs Institute on the 2025-2026 MATCH design to continue refining the sample design and data collection approach. The improvements will provide more accurate health estimates for West Virginia and its local populations. We anticipate public health researchers and policymakers across the state will use MATCH data to understand health trends and better allocate resources to underserved communities.