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Methods Series

The HCUP Methods Series features a broad array of methodological information on the HCUP databases and software tools.

Reports in the series are listed below in chronological order. You may also view this series by topic.
 
Report Number Title
 
2023
Report #2023-01

Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the 2023 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report (NHQDR) (PDF file, 1.1 MB)

 
2022
Report #2022-01 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the 2022 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report (NHQDR) (PDF file, 1.1 MB; HTML)
Report #2022-02 User Guide: An Examination of Expected Payer Coding in HCUP Databases (Updated for 2020 HCUP Data) (PDF file, 632 KB)
Supplements 1-3 (PDF file, 1.02 MB)
Report #2022-03 Population Denominator Data Sources and Data for Use with HCUP Databases (Updated with 2021 Population Data) (PDF file, 680 KB)
Appendix (Excel file, 292 KB)
 
2021
Report #2021-01 User Guide: An Examination of Expected Payer Coding in HCUP Databases (Updated for 2019 HCUP Data) (PDF file, 657 KB; HTML)
Supplements 1-3 (PDF file, 1.0 MB; HTML)
Report #2021-02 Methods for Calculating Patient Travel Distance to Hospital in HCUP Data (PDF file, 1.3 MB; HTML)
Supplements 1-3 (Excel file, 136 KB)
Report #2021-03 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the 2021 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report (NHQDR) (PDF file, 4.4 MB; HTML)
Report #2021-04 Population Denominator Data Sources and Data for Use with HCUP Databases (Updated with 2020 Population Data) (PDF file, 812 KB; HTML)
Appendix (Excel file, 290 KB)
Report #2021-05 HCUP Cost-to-Charge Ratio Methodologies (PDF file, 680 KB; HTML)
 
2020
Report #2020-01 User Guide: An Examination of Expected Payer Coding in HCUP Databases (Updated for 2018 HCUP Data) (PDF file, 719 KB)
Report #2020-02 Population Denominator Data Sources and Data for Use with HCUP Databases (Updated with 2019 Population Data) (PDF file, 668 KB)
Appendix A: Population Data Tables (Excel file, 287 KB)
Report #2020-03 An Examination of Ambiguous Source Payer Codes Among Individuals Aged 65+ Years in HCUP Data: Final Report (PDF file, 757 KB)
Supplements 1-6 (PDF file, 706 KB)
Report #2020-04 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the 2019 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report (NHQDR) (PDF file, 1.3 MB)
 
 
2019
Report #2019-01 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the 2018 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report (QDR) (PDF file, 1.1 MB)
Report #2019-02 Population Denominator Data Sources and Data for Use with HCUP Databases (Updated with 2018 Population Data) (PDF file, 882 KB)
Appendix A: Population Data Tables (Excel file, 358 KB)
Report #2019-03 User Guide: An Examination of Expected Payer Coding in HCUP Databases (Updated for 2017 HCUP Data (PDF file, 607 KB)
Report #2019-04 Conducting County-Level Analyses With HCUP Data: Approaches and Methodological Considerations (PDF file, 738 KB)
 
 
2018
Report #2018-01 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the 2017 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report (QDR) (PDF file, 585 KB)
Report #2018-02 An Examination of CHIP and Medicaid Expected Payer Coding in HCUP Databases (PDF file, 488 KB)
Supplements 1-2 (PDF file, 546 KB)
Supplement 3 (PDF file, 301 KB; Excel file, 54 KB)
Report #2018-03 Population Denominator Data Sources and Data for Use with HCUP Databases (Updated with 2017 Population Data) (PDF file, 359 KB)
Appendix A: Population Data Tables (Excel file, 255 KB)
Report #2018-04 User Guide: An Examination of Expected Payer Coding in HCUP Databases (Updated for 2016 HCUP Data) (PDF file, 559 KB)
 
2017
Report #2017-01 Calculating Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) Variances (PDF file, 325 KB)
Report #2017-02 Feasibility Report on Redesigning the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) (PDF file, 770 KB)
Report #2017-03 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the 2016 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report (QDR) (PDF file, 603 KB)
Report #2017-04 Population Denominator Data for Use with the HCUP Databases (Updated with 2016 Population Data) (PDF file, 477 KB)
Appendix A Population Data Tables (in ZIP format for downloading)
Report #2017-05 User Guide: An Examination of Expected Payer Coding in HCUP Databases (Updated for 2015 HCUP Data) (PDF file, 367 KB)
 
2016
Report #2016-01 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the 2015 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report (QDR) (PDF file, 992 KB)
Report #2016-02 Impact of ICD-10-CM/PCS on Research Using Administrative Databases (PDF file, 1.2 MB)
Report #2016-03 HCUP External Cause of Injury Code (E Code) Evaluation Report (Updated with 2013 HCUP Data) (PDF file, 490 KB)
Report #2016-04 Population Denominator Data for Use with the HCUP Databases (Updated with 2015 Population Data) (PDF file, 375 KB)
Appendix A Population Data Tables (in ZIP format for downloading)
Report #2016-05 Identifying Observation Services in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Databases (Updated with 2013 HCUP Data) (PDF file, 440 KB)
Report #2016-06 Using the HCUP Databases to Study Incidence and Prevalence (PDF file, 282 KB)
Report #2016-07 Challenges to Studying Patients Transferred Between Hospitals (PDF file, 739 KB)
Report #2016-08 State Variation in Procedure Coding in the HCUP State Emergency Department Databases (PDF file, 390 KB)
Report #2016-09 User Guide - An Examination of Expected Payer Coding in HCUP Databases (Updated for 2014 HCUP Data) (PDF file, 275 KB)
 
2015
Report #2015-01 Missing Data Methods for the NIS and the SID (PDF file, 871 KB)
Report #2015-02 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the 2014 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report (QDR) (PDF file, 491 KB)
Report #2015-03 HCUP External Cause of Injury Code (E Code) Evaluation Report (Updated with 2012 HCUP Data) (PDF file, 429 KB)
Report #2015-04 2012 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) Comparison Report (PDF file, 1.1 MB; HTML)
Report #2015-05 Identifying Observation Services in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Databases (PDF file, 647 KB)
Report #2015-06 Examination of the Coding of Present-on-Admission Indicators in Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Inpatient Databases (SID) (PDF file, 756 KB)
Report #2015-07 Population Denominator Data for Use with the HCUP Databases (Updated with 2014 Population Data) (PDF file, 617 KB)
Appendix A Population Data Tables (in ZIP format for downloading)
Report #2015-08 User Guide - An Examination of Expected Payer Coding in HCUP Databases (Updated for 2013 HCUP Data) (PDF file, 542 KB)
Report #2015-09 Calculating National Inpatient Sample (NIS) Variances for Data Years 2012 and Later (PDF file, 565 KB; HTML)
Addendum: Provides additional guidance to ensure that variance estimates are calculated correctly (PDF file, 248 KB)
 
2014
Report #2014-01 HCUP External Cause of Injury (E Code) Evaluation Report (Updated with 2011 HCUP Data) (PDF file, 297 KB)
Report #2014-02 Population Denominator Data for Use with the HCUP Databases (Updated with 2013 Population Data) (PDF file, 538 KB)
Appendix A Population Data Tables (in ZIP format for downloading)
Report #2014-03 User Guide - An Examination of Expected Payer Coding in HCUP Databases (PDF file, 557 KB)
An Examination of Expected Payer Coding in HCUP Databases (PDF file, 1.3 MB)
Supplement 4 (PDF file, 502 KB; Excel file, 156 KB)
Report #2014-04 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Redesign Final Report (PDF file, 2.0 MB)
 
2013
Report #2013-01 Population Denominator Data for use with HCUP Databases (Updated with 2012 Population data) (PDF file, 338 KB)
Appendix A Population Data Tables (in ZIP format for downloading)
Report #2013-02 HCUP External Cause of Injury (E Code) Evaluation Report (Updated with 2010 HCUP Data) (PDF file, 227 KB)
 
2012
Report #2012-01 Population Denominator Data for use with HCUP Databases (Updated with 2010 Population data) (PDF file, 436 KB)
Appendix A Population Data Tables (in ZIP format for downloading)
Report #2012-02 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the Tenth (2012) National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR) and National Healthcare Disparities Report (PDF file, 134 KB; HTML)
Report #2012-03 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the Eleventh (2013) National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR) and National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR) (PDF file, 458 KB; HTML)
Report #2012-04 Overview of Key Readmission Measures and Methods (PDF file, 348 KB)
 
2011
Report #2011-01 Methodological Issues when Studying Readmissions and Revisits using Hospital Administrative Data (PDF file, 301 KB)
Report #2011-02 Evaluation of the State Ambulatory Surgery Databases, Available through the HCUP Central Distributor, 2008 (PDF file, 767 KB)
Report #2011-03 Special Study on the Meaning of the First-Listed Diagnosis on Emergency Department and Ambulatory Surgery Records (PDF file, 1.0 MB)
Report #2011-04 Tools for More Accurate Inpatient Cost Estimates with HCUP Databases, 2009 (PDF file, 837 KB)
Report #2011-05 The Case for the POA Indicator: Update 2011 (PDF file, 418 KB)
Report #2011-06 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the Ninth (2011) NHQR and NHDR Report (PDF file, 367 KB)
Report #2011-07 Evaluation of the State Ambulatory Surgery Databases, Available through the HCUP Central Distributor, 2009 (PDF file, 756 KB)
 
2010
Report #2010-01 Enhancing Clinical Information in Statewide Hospital Administrative Data: Project Summary and Lessons Learned (PDF file, 248 KB)
Report #2010-02 Population Denominator Data for Use with the HCUP Databases (Updated with 2009 Population Data) (PDF file, 353 KB)
Appendix A (in ZIP format for downloading)
Report #2010-03 2007 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Comparison Report (PDF file, 524 KB)
Report #2010-04 Evaluation of the State Ambulatory Surgery Databases, Available through the HCUP Central Distributor, 2007 (PDF file, 903 KB)
Report #2010-05 Inferences with HCUP State Databases Final Report (PDF file, 215 KB)
Report #2010-06 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the Eighth (2010) National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR) and National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR) (PDF file, 623 KB)
 
2009
Report #2009-01 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the Seventh (2009) National Healthcare Quality Report (PDF file, 292 KB)
Report #2009-02 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the Seventh (2009) National Healthcare Disparities Report (PDF file, 248 KB)
Report #2009-03 Evaluation of the State Ambulatory Surgery Databases, Available through the HCUP Central Distributor, 2006 (PDF file, 248 KB)
 
2008
Report #2008-01 2005 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Comparison Report (PDF file, 389 KB)
Report #2008-02 Patient Safety in Hospitals in 2004: Toward Understanding Variation Across States (PDF file, 459 KB)
Report #2008-03 The Cost of Ambulatory Surgery Visits, 2005 (PDF file, 187 KB)
Report #2008-04 Calculate Cost Adjustment Factors by APR-DRG and CCS Using Selected States with Detailed Charge (PDF file, 122 KB)
Report #2008-05 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the Sixth (2008) National Healthcare Quality Report (PDF file, 172 KB)
Report #2008-06 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the Sixth (2008) National Healthcare Disparities Report (PDF file, 149 KB)
Addendum: Generating State-Level Quality Indicators by Community Income Quartile and Race/Ethnicity from HCUP Data (PDF file, 33 KB)
Report #2008-07 Population Denominator Data for Use with the HCUP Databases (Updated) (PDF file, 248 KB)
Census Population Data Tables, 1990-2007 (in ZIP format for downloading)
Report #2008-08 Evaluation of the State Ambulatory Surgery Databases, Available through the HCUP Central Distributor, 2005 (PDF file, 526 KB)
 
2007
Report #2007-01 Hierarchical Modeling Using HCUP Data (PDF file, 580 KB)
Report #2007-02 Using the KIDS' Inpatient Database (KID) to Estimate Trends (PDF file, 360 KB)
Trends Weights for the 1997 HCUP KID Data
Report #2007-03 2004 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Comparison Report (PDF file, 441 KB)
Report #2007-04 Evaluation of the State Ambulatory Surgery Databases Available Through the HCUP Central Distributor, 2004 (PDF file, 356 KB)
Report #2007-05 The Cost of "Treat and Release" to Hospital Emergency Departments, 2003 (PDF file, 166 KB)
Report #2007-06 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the Fifth (2007) National Healthcare Quality Report (PDF file, 428 KB)
Report #2007-07 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the Fifth (2007) National Healthcare Disparities Report (PDF file, 508 KB)
 
2006
Report #2006-01 The Case for the Present-on-Admission (POA) Indicator (PDF file, 246 KB)
Report #2006-02 Final PNUM Linkage Variable Report of the State Databases Available Through the HCUP Central Distributor, 2003 (PDF file, 224 KB)
Report #2006-03 2003 HCUP KIDS' Inpatient Database (KID) Comparison Report (PDF file, 607 KB)
Report #2006-04 Development of Utilization Flags for Use with UB-92 Administrative Data (PDF file, 258 KB)
Appendices: A-F (PDF file, 452 KB)
Report #2006-05 Using the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample to Estimate Trends (PDF file, 1.0 MB)
Trend Weights for 1988-1997 HCUP NIS Data (Link to downloadable weights files)
Report #2006-06 Updated population information available under Method Series Report 2008-07
Population Denominator Data for Use with the HCUP Databases (PDF file, 285 KB)
Census Population Data Tables, 1990-2005 (in ZIP format for downloading)
Report #2006-07 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the Fourth (2006) National Healthcare Quality Report (PDF file, 212 KB)
Report #2006-08 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the Fourth (2006) National Healthcare Disparities Report (PDF file, 185 KB)
Report #2006-09 Final 2003 NIS Comparison Report (PDF file, 547 KB)
Report #2006-10 Evaluation of the State Ambulatory Surgery Databases Available Through the HCUP Central Distributor, 2003 (PDF file, 316 KB)
 
2005
Report #2005-01 Using the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample to Estimate Trends (1988-2002) (PDF file, 830 KB)
Trend Weights for 1988-1997 HCUP NIS Data (Link to downloadable weights files)
Report #2005-02 Emergency Department Data Evaluation (PDF file, 752 KB)
Report #2005-03 Final 2002 NIS Comparison Report (PDF file, 644 KB)
Report #2005-04 Evaluation of the State Ambulatory Surgery Databases Available Through the HCUP Central Distributor, 2002 (PDF file, 253 KB)
Report #2005-05 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the Third National Healthcare Quality Report (PDF file, 282 KB)
Report #2005-06 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the Third National Healthcare Disparities Report (PDF file, 186 KB)
Report #2005-07 Calculating Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) Variances (PDF file, 322 KB)
Addendum: Provides additional guidance to ensure that variance estimates are calculated correctly (PDF file, 288 KB)
 
2004
Report #2004-01 Comorbidity Software Documentation (PDF file, 583 KB; HTML)
Report #2004-02 Clinical Classifications Software Documentation (PDF file, 355 KB)
Report #2004-03 Evaluation of the State Ambulatory Surgery Databases 2001 (PDF file, 489 KB)
Report #2004-04 Final 2001 NIS Comparison Report (PDF file, 1,076 KB)
Report #2004-05 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the Second National Healthcare Disparities Report (PDF file, 433 KB)
Report #2004-06 HCUP External Cause of Injury (E Code) Evaluation Report (2001 HCUP Data) (PDF file, 897 KB)
HCUP E Code Evaluation Addendum - Updated Information for 2009 (PDF file, 159 KB)
HCUP E Code Evaluation Addendum - Updated Information for 2006 and 2008 (PDF file, 135 KB)
HCUP E Code Evaluation Report - Appendix D (PDF file, 486 KB)
HCUP E Code Evaluation Report - Appendix E (PDF file, 463 KB)
Report #2004-07 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the Second (2004) National Healthcare Quality Report (PDF file, 414 KB)
 
2003
Report #2003-01 Final 2000 NIS Comparison Report (PDF file, 991 KB)
Report #2003-02 Calculating Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Variances for Data Years 2011 and Earlier (PDF file, 642 KB; HTML)
Addendum: Provides additional guidance to ensure that variance estimates are calculated correctly (PDF file, 296 KB)
Report #2003-03 Evaluation of the 1999 State Ambulatory Surgery Databases (PDF file, 419 KB)
Report #2003-04 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the National Healthcare Disparities Report (PDF file, 674 KB)
Report #2003-05 Methods Applying AHRQ Quality Indicators to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Data for the National Healthcare Quality Report (PDF file, 490 KB)
 
2002
Report #2002-01 Changes in the NIS Sampling and Weighting Strategy for 1998 (PDF file, 1,430 KB)
Report #2002-02 Final 1999 NIS Comparison Report (PDF file, 1,117 KB)
Report #2002-03 Observation Status Related to U.S. Hospital Records (PDF file, 469 KB)
 
2001
Report #2001-01 Comparative Analysis of the HCUP Kids´ Inpatient Database (KID), 1997 (PDF file, 645 KB)
 
2000
Report #2000-01 Comparison Analysis for the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample Release 6 (1997) (PDF file, 340 KB)
 
1998
Report #1998-01 Comparison Analysis for the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample Release 4 (1995) (PDF file, 284 KB)
 
1997
Report #1997-01 Comparison Analysis for the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample Release 2 (1993) (PDF file, 301 KB)
 
1996
Report #1996-01 Comparison Analysis for the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample Release 1 (1988-1992) (PDF file, 436 KB)

Internet Citation: HCUP Methods Series. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). November 2023. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/methods/methods.jsp.
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Last modified 11/20/23