The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) has linked data from the 1994-1998 NHIS and NHANES I and III population surveys to the Medicare enrollment and utilization data files covering the time period 1991-2000. The linked data files may be obtained and analyzed through the NCHS Research Data Center.
New data files from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), which reflect the linkage of several NCHS population based surveys with Medicare administrative data on enrollment and health care utilization, are now accessible through the NCHS Research Data Center (RDC). The NCHS-Medicare linked files combine health and socio-demographic information from NCHS surveys with claims information from the Medicare program, resulting in unique population-based information that can be used for an array of epidemiological and health services research initiatives. The linkage of the NCHS survey participants with the Medicare data provides the opportunity to study changes in health status, health care utilization and expenditures in the elderly and disabled U.S. population, and the relationship of various personal health risk factors with subsequent health care use and spending, as well as mortality.
NCHS has recently expanded its record linkage program in order to maximize the scientific value of the Center's population-based surveys. The 1994-1998 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I and III) surveys have been linked to Medicare enrollment and utilization records (1991-2000), Social Security benefits history data and disability determination data (1962-2003), and mortality data through 2000 (NHANES) and 2002 (NHIS). Linked Medicare data files include: Denominator, MEDPAR – Inpatient and Skilled Nursing Facility, Carrier – Physician Services, Outpatient, Home Health Care, Hospice, and Durable Medical Equipment. More information on NCHS’s data linkage activities can be found at www.cdc.gov/nchs/r&d/nchs_datalinkage/data_linkage_activities.htm.
