Central Distributor SID: Description of Data Elements

ZIP3 - Patient ZIP Code, first 3 digits

Documentation Sections:

General Notes

Uniform Values

State Specific Notes

General Notes

The first three digits of the patient's ZIP Code (ZIP3) provides sufficient information to identify the location of a patient's residence within a broad region within a state. ZIP3 is retained as provided by the data source with the following exceptions: Foreign ZIP Codes are recoded to indicate Canadian, Mexican, and other or unspecified foreign ZIP Codes. Non-numeric ZIP Codes are identified (ZIP = "A"). The ZIP Code for homeless patients is set to "H".

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Uniform Values

Variable Description Value Value Description ZIP3 Patient ZIP Code, first 3 digits nnn First 3 digits of patient ZIP Code C Canada M Mexico F Other or unspecified foreign H Homeless Blank Missing A Invalid

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State Specific Notes

Washington Starting in data year 2023, the ZIP3 Code for patients with diagnoses indicating substance use disorders have been set to missing to protect patient confidentiality. Due to an error in 2004 HCUP processing of the Washington SID, the ZIP3 Code for less than 100 foreign discharges was set to invalid ("A") instead of set to unspecified foreign ("F").

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