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Health Data

Comparative Major Microdata Health Sources

The following table includes major USA health surveys. All report age, gender, race, diagnosis, and procedures. For full names of surveys and more details on possible alternative means of access or access to older data, see the fuller descriptions under the USA tab.

Survey Title Dates Variable Locator Lowest level of geography revealed Constituents Payment Source Marital Status Income/Education/Occupation Duration of visit or waiting time

NHIS (ICPSR)

NHIS (CDC)

1963+ ICPSR 4 geographic regions; Urban vs. Rural Sample of the civilian, noninstutionalized population. Asks if you have insurance, Social Security, etc. Yes Yes Estimated
MEPS 1977, 1980, 1987, 1996+ Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality 4 geographic regions; Some state level summary tables; Urban vs. Rural Subsample of households that participated in the prior year's National Health Interview Survey. Yes Yes Yes Yes

NAMCS (ICPSR)

NAMCS (CDC)

1973-1981, 1985, 1989+ ICPSR 4 geographic regions; Urban vs. Rural Sample of outpatients in physician's offices Yes No Median household income for patient's zip code/No/No Yes

National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (ICPSR)

NHAMCS (CDC)

1992-2022 (ceased) ICPSR 4 geographic regions; Urban vs. Rural Sample of patients selected from emergency & outpatient departments of hospitals. Yes No Median household income for patient's zip code/No/No Yes
National Hospital Discharge Survey/National Hospital Care Survey 1964-2010; National Hospital Care Survey is restricted. ICPSR 4 geographic regions. Sample of hospital discharges Yes Yes No Yes

NHANES (ICPSR)

NHANES (CDC)

1959+  
ICPSR and CDC 4 geographic regions; Urban vs. Rural Samples of the civilian noninstitutionalized population Questions regarding if you have insurance, Social Security, etc. Yes Yes Not applicable
HCUP (restricted) 1988+ See codebook 4 geographic regions; Urban vs. Rural; Hospital state and sometimes city (through 2011; after 2011 all geography other than region removed) Sample of hospital inpatient discharges in participating states (states vary over time) Yes No Median household income for patient's zip code/No/No Yes
Public Patient Discharge Survey  (restricted) 1983+ See codebook Hospital; Zip Code Inpatients discharged from a California licensed hospital Yes Yes No Yes