Central Distributor SEDD: Description of Data Elements

HCUP_ED - HCUP indicator of emergency department record

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HCUP_ED indicates records that have evidence of emergency department (ED) services reported on the HCUP record. A value of 1 or more indicates that there is evidence of ED services, per HCUP criteria. A value of 0 marks records that do not include evidence of ED services.

The criteria used to identify ED services has changed over time. Evidence of ED services includes:

Emergency department revenue code of 450-459 on record.
Positive emergency department charge, when revenue center codes are not available.
Emergency department CPT codes reported on record
- 99281-99285
- 99288 (added in data year 2018)
- G0380-G0384 (added in data year 2018)
Condition Code of P7 (NUBC preferred coding for public reporting as of July 1, 2010)
Point of origin of ED (NUBC preferred coding from October 1, 2007 to June 30, 2010)
Admission source of ED (NUBC preferred coding prior to October 1, 2007).

It is possible that records with HCUP_ED=0 did in fact have ED services, but that relevant coding information was not captured on the HCUP record.

The availability of the data element HCUP_ED varies by HCUP database:

State Emergency Department Databases (SEDD) beginning in 2003
State Inpatient Databases (SID) beginning in 2005
Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) beginning in 2007
State Ambulatory Surgery Databases beginning in 2003.

Specific to the HCUP SEDD only: HCUP Partner organizations may have different criteria for identifying ED services. Records that are identified by the HCUP Partner as ED visits that are not admitted to the same hospital are included in the SEDD files, regardless of whether the record meets the HCUP ED criteria specified above. In these records, the HCUP_ED variable will be set to 0 in the SEDD. Please refer to the HCUP_ED State Specific Notes for more details.

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Uniform Values

Variable	Description	Value	Value Description
HCUP_ED	HCUP indicator of emergency department record	0	Record does not meet any HCUP Emergency Department criteria
		1	Emergency Department revenue code on record
		2	Positive Emergency Department charge (when revenue center codes are not available)
		3	Emergency Department CPT procedure code on record
		4	Condition code P7 indication of ED admission, point of origin of ED, or admission source of ED

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State Specific Notes

Arizona

Beginning in 2008, Arizona provides ED charge information.

The 2005-2007 Arizona SEDD does not include information on ED charges, ED revenue codes, or admission source. Because of this, the criteria for assigning HCUP_ED are limited to CPT codes. Analysts should consider all records in the Arizona SEDD as emergency department records, even if HCUP_ED is 0.

California

The California SEDD does not include information on ED charges, ED revenue codes, or admission source/point of origin. Because of this, the criteria for assigning HCUP_ED are limited to CPT codes. Analysts should consider all records in the California SEDD as emergency department records, even if HCUP_ED is 0.

Hawaii

The Hawaii SEDD does not include information on ED charges or revenue codes. Because of this, the criteria for assigning HCUP_ED are limited to CPT codes and admission source. Analysts should consider all records in the Hawaii SEDD as emergency department records, even if HCUP_ED is 0.

Massachusetts

The Massachusetts SEDD does not include information on ED charges or revenue codes. Because of this, the criteria for assigning HCUP_ED are limited to CPT codes and admission source. Analysts should consider all records in the Massachusetts SEDD as emergency department records, even if HCUP_ED is 0.

Missouri

The 2003 Missouri data included limited reporting on ED charges and revenue codes. Because of this, the criteria for assigning HCUP_ED are limited in 2003 to CPT codes and admission source. Analysts should consider all records in the 2003 Missouri SEDD as emergency department records, even if HCUP_ED is 0. The coding of ED charges and revenue codes improved starting in 2004.

North Carolina

Beginning in 2014, revenue codes and charges are added and used to assign HCUP_ED.

Beginning in 2012, CPT codes are provided and used to assign HCUP_ED.

Prior to 2012, the North Carolina SEDD did not include information on ED charges, ED revenue codes, or CPT codes. Because of this, the criteria for assigning HCUP_ED are limited admission source. Analysts should consider all records in the North Carolina SEDD as emergency department records, even if HCUP_ED is 0.

For 2010-2011, the number of records where point of origin = "Emergency Room" significantly decreased from 2009. Since this element is the sole source for deriving HCUP_ED, records with "Emergency Dept Indicator" decreased accordingly.

Vermont

The 2003-2004 Vermont SEDD included only two-digit revenue codes. This limited the ability for HCUP_ED to identify emergency department records. Beginning in 2005, the Vermont SEDD includes complete revenue codes.

Wisconsin

Beginning in 2006, Wisconsin provides ED charge information.

The 2004-2005 Wisconsin SEDD does not include information on ED charges or revenue codes. Because of this, the criteria for assigning HCUP_ED are limited to CPT codes and admission source. Analysts should consider all records in the 2004-2005 Wisconsin SEDD as emergency department records, even if HCUP_ED is 0.

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Central Distributor SEDD: Description of Data Elements