Key points
- Linking National Center for Health Statistics National Hospital Care Survey data with the Department of Veterans Affairs administrative data enables researchers to conduct studies to advance public health.
- Find a list of data dictionaries and resources for restricted-use data.
Overview
The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Data Linkage Program links survey data with data from other agencies. Restricted-use data from NCHS's National Hospital Care Survey (NHCS) is linked to the (VA) administrative data.
These data contain details of active-duty service in the U.S. uniformed services, including branch of service and era of active-duty service. They also contain VA benefit program use such as—
- VA health care
- Service-connected disability compensation
- Pension
- VA guaranteed home loan program
- Life insurance
- Education
- Training and veteran readiness (vocational rehabilitation)
- Employment benefit programs
VA administrative records are available for NHCS patient records where NCHS could match with VA administrative records. The VA provided NCHS with administrative data for all successfully matched patient records.
The 2016 NHCS data link to VA administrative data through September 30, 2020 (end of fiscal year [FY] 2020).
Restricted-use linked NHCS-VA data
Restricted-use linked 2016 NHCS-VA files through FY 2020 can be accessed only through the National Center for Health Statistics Research Data Center (RDC) network for approved research projects.
Data dictionaries
- NHCS-VA match status file (11/09/2022)
- NHCS-VA service record file (11/09/2022)
- NHCS-VA utilization file (09/16/2022)