DISCWTcharge is a discharge-level weight that is only available in the 2000 NIS. To produce national estimates of total charge in 2000, use DISCWTcharge to weight total charge (TOTCHG) in the Core file to the total charge from all community hospitals located in the U.S.

• In the 2000 NIS, there are two discharge-level weights (DISCWT and DISCWTcharge). DISCWT should be used to create national estimates for all analyses except those that involve total charge. DISCWTcharge should be used to create national estimates of total charge.
• In all data years except 2000, DISCWT (beginning in 1998) or DISCWT_U (prior to 1997) should be used to create all national estimates.

For detailed information about the development and use of discharge and hospital weights, see the year-specific report on the Design of the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample.