TOTCHG_ED contains the edited total charge for emergency department services. Editing includes the following:

• Values are rounded to the nearest dollar;
• Zero charges are set to missing (.);
• If ED charges are excessively low or high, then TOTCHG_ED is set to inconsistent (.C). The allowable values for ED charges vary by year: between $25 and $50,000 in 2006; between $100 and $75,000 in 2007 to 2010; and between $100 and $950,000 beginning in 2011 data.

Not all HCUP data sources provide ED charge information. TOTCHG_ED is assigned as follows:

• If the NEDS record is from the SEDD (HCUPFILE="SEDD"), then TOTCHG_ED is equal to the total charge (TOTCHG) on the SEDD record.
• If the NEDS record is from the SID (HCUPFILE="SID"), then TOTCHG_ED is either the sum of detailed charges to the ED revenue centers 450-459 or is the reported total charge for ED services.