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NORC at the University Chicago

Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)

The nation’s most comprehensive source of hospital care data
  • Client
    Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
  • Dates
    December 2022 - Present

Problem

About the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)

HCUP integrates data collected by state data organizations, hospital associations, and private data organizations to create a national healthcare information resource of hospital inpatient, ambulatory surgery and services, and emergency department data. HCUP is a unique data source that provides record-level data (approximately 35 million records annually) in a range of settings. The information provided in HCUP data includes patient demographics, diagnoses and procedures, how the patient was admitted and discharged, and resource utilization. HCUP databases facilitate cutting-edge research on a broad range of health policy and health services issues, including cost and quality of health services, medical practice patterns, access to health care projects, hospital cost and utilization, and multi-level treatment outcomes. The primary focus of HCUP has been to provide the nation with high quality data and information to make evidence-based decisions to improve healthcare access, coverage, and cost.

Solution

NORC’s Role: Conducting & Modernizing HCUP

NORC’s vision is to modernize HCUP, improve data quality, and expand access and data availability. Throughout the course of the project, NORC will:

  1. maintain and enhance HCUP databases and tools available to the public and research community;
  2. continue to facilitate and enhance timely data releases and analytic products;
  3. provide responsive technical assistance to HCUP Partners who provide data; and
  4. identify opportunities for innovation.
     

By maintaining and strengthening the foundation, NORC will assist AHRQ in broadening the impact of HCUP data and products.

Result

Looking Forward

HCUP is essential for measuring health care quality and cost and tracking healthcare reform progress and impact. NORC’s work will bring high-quality, evidence-based data available to a wider range of researchers, health care stakeholders, and policymakers.

Project Leads

“HCUP represents one of the most important sources of data on the health of Americans. The participation of our Nation's states and hospitals are the bedrock of HCUP by sharing hospital discharge data to build a critical resource for understanding medical care and improving access.”

Felicia LeClere

Project Director & Distinguished Senior Fellow

“HCUP represents one of the most important sources of data on the health of Americans. The participation of our Nation's states and hospitals are the bedrock of HCUP by sharing hospital discharge data to build a critical resource for understanding medical care and improving access.”

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