DISP indicates the disposition of the patient at discharge (routine, transfer to another hospital, died, etc.). Patients that died outside of the hospital are coded as died (DISP =20).

The distinction between discharged to a skilled nursing facility (DISP = 3) and intermediate care facility (DISP = 4) may be defined differently for different data sources.

In 1995, Arizona added the disposition "Home IV Provider." This is recoded to the HCUP discharge disposition Home Health Care (DISP = 6).

Beginning in 1995, California differentiates the discharge disposition to care within the same facility and discharges to another facility. Patients discharged to another level of care (e.g., long term care, residential care, and other care) were included in the uniform category "Another Type of Facility" (DISP = 5) regardless of whether the patient was physically transferred to another hospital or stayed in the same facility. Discharges to acute care were included in the uniform category "Short-Term Hospital" (DISP = 2).

Beginning in 1995, the source reports a separate category for discharges to "Prison/Jail." These discharges were included in the uniform category "Routine" (DISP = 1).

Beginning in 1997, Colorado reports two new categories for discharge disposition:

• "Hospice-Medical Facility" which was recoded to the HCUP category "Another type of facility" (DISP=5), and
• "Hospice-Home" which was recoded to the HCUP category "Home Health Care" (DISP=6).

Beginning in 1997, Connecticut reports two new categories for discharge disposition:

• "Hospice - Medical Facility" which was recoded to the HCUP category "Another type of facility" (DISP = 5), and
• "Hospice - Home" which was recoded to the HCUP category "Home Health Care" (DISP = 6).

Prior to 1997, the source category of "Discharged Home on IV Medications" was recoded to the HCUP discharge disposition of Home (DISP = 1). Beginning in 1997, this source category was recoded to Home Health Care (DISP = 6) to be consistent with the coding of this discharge disposition in other states.

In addition to the usual categories coded under died (DISP = 20), the following dispositions are included:

• "Expired at home,"
• "Expired in a medical facility," and
• "Expired, place unknown."

Even though Hawaii allows a range of discharge dispositions to be coded (i.e., SNF, ICF, another facility, and home health care), most of the Hawaii discharges are coded with a discharge disposition of:

• Routine (DISP = 1),
• Transfer to an acute care facility (DISP = 2), or
• Died (DISP = 20).

In 1993, Illinois changed the categories used to report disposition of patient (referred to by the source as patient status). Several categories used from 1988-1992 are not included starting in 1993. In 1995, two new categories are added.

For all years, the source disposition "Discharged to home under the care of a Home IV Drug Therapy provider" is included in the HCUP category "Home health care" (DISP = 6).

Dispositions reported only in 1988-1992:

• The source disposition "Discharged, no longer covered by Medicaid" is included in the HCUP category "Routine" (DISP = 1).
• The source disposition "Transferred to another category of service" is included in the HCUP category "Another type of facility" (DISP = 5). This source category may include intrahospital transfers which may not represent the final disposition of the patient. However, these records cannot be distinguished from others legitimately coded under "Another type of facility."

Dispositions added in 1995:

• "Hospice - Medical Facility" which was recoded to the HCUP category "Another type of facility" (DISP = 5), and
• "Hospice - Home" which was recoded to the HCUP category "Home Health Care" (DISP = 6).

The source codes for "Rehabilitation Center", "Psychiatric Facility", and "Custodial Care" are included in the HCUP category "Another Type of Facility" (DISP = 5).

The source codes for "Coroner's Case, autopsy" and "Coroner's Case, no autopsy" are included in the HCUP category "Died" (DISP = 20).

Another Type of Facility

The following source codes were included in the HCUP category "Another Type of Facility" (DISP = 5):

• "Rehab Facility,"
• "Rehab Unit-Other Hosp," and
• "On-site Distinct Rehab Unit."

Beginning in 1996, three additional source codes were included in the HCUP category "Another Type of Facility" (DISP = 5):

• "On-site Psychiatric Unit,"
• "On-site Sub-acute Facility", and
• "Other Sub-acute Facility."

Intermediate Care Facility

Maryland does not separately classify the disposition of Intermediate Care Facility (DISP=4). No documentation was available about which discharge disposition was used for Intermediate Care Facility.

For all years, the source code for "Discharge Other" was included in the HCUP category "Missing" (DISP = .).

Beginning in 1993, quarter 4, the source codes for "Further Care - Inpatient or Outpatient Department" and "Rest Home" were included in the HCUP category "Another Type of Facility" (DISP = 5).

Beginning in October 1995, New Jersey reports two new categories for discharge disposition:

• "Hospice - Medical Facility" which was recoded to the HCUP category "Another type of facility" (DISP = 5), and
• "Hospice - Home" which was recoded to the HCUP category "Home Health Care" (DISP = 6).

In All Years

• The source category "Neonatal Aftercare" was recoded to the HCUP uniform category "Short-Term Hospital" (DISP = 2).
• The source category "Psychiatric Chronic Care Facility" was recoded to the HCUP uniform category "Another Type of Facility" (DISP = 5).

Residential Health Care Facility

• For 1988-1992, the source coded "Intermediate Care Facility" and "Residential Health Care Facility" in a single category. This was recoded to the HCUP category "Intermediate Care Facility (ICF)" (DISP = 4).
• For 1993, New York included "Residential Health Care Facility" with their category for "Skilled Nursing Facility." This was assigned to the HCUP category "Skilled Nursing Facility" (DISP = 3). "Intermediate Care Facility" was coded in its own category.
• Beginning in 1994, the source reports "Domiciliary Health Care Facility" in place of "Residential Health Care Facility." This was recoded to "Another Type of Facility" (DISP = 5).

Tertiary Aftercare

• Beginning in 1994, the source reports "Transferred to Another Hospital for Tertiary Aftercare." This was recoded to the HCUP category "Short-Term Hospital" (DISP = 2).

Hospice

• Beginning in October 1995, New York reports two new categories for discharge disposition:
  • "Hospice - Medical Facility" which was recoded to the HCUP category "Another type of facility" (DISP = 5), and
  • "Hospice - Home" which was recoded to the HCUP category "Home Health Care" (DISP = 6).

Expired

• Beginning in 1997, New York reports three new categories coded under died (DISP = 20):
  • "Expired at home,"
  • "Expired at a medical facility," and
  • "Expired, place unknown."

According to Oregon's 1993 report to HCUP on their data practices, some Oregon hospitals do not differentiate discharges to home (DISP = 1) and discharges to home health care (DISP = 6). These discharges would be reported in the HCUP Oregon data as discharges to home (DISP = 1). Information on more recent practices is not available.

Prior to 1995, Oregon did not report discharges to "Other short-term facility" (DISP = 2) although the category was included in the source documentation. Beginning in 1995, this discharge disposition was reported.

Beginning in 1997, Oregon reports two new categories for discharge disposition:

• "Hospice - Medical Facility" which was recoded to the HCUP category "Another type of facility" (DISP = 5), and
• "Hospice - Home" which was recoded to the HCUP category "Home Health Care" (DISP = 6).

In addition to the usual categories coded under died (DISP = 20), the following dispositions include:

• "Expired at home,"
• "Expired in a medical facility," and
• "Expired, place unknown."

In 1993, blank values reported by Pennsylvania were incorrectly assigned to the HCUP category Invalid (.A) instead of missing (.). DISP was processed correctly in other years.

In addition to the usual categories coded under died (DISP = 20), the following dispositions are include:

• "Expired at home,"
• "Expired at a medical facility," and
• "Expired, place unknown."

Beginning in 1996, South Carolina reports two new categories for discharge disposition:

• "Hospice - Medical Facility" which was recoded to the HCUP category "Another type of facility" (DISP = 5), and
• "Hospice - Home" which was recoded to the HCUP category "Home Health Care" (DISP = 6).

The source disposition "Mental Health Center" is included in the HCUP category "Another type of facility" (DISP = 5).

In 1995, the source disposition "Admitted as an inpatient to this hospital (only for Medicare outpatient claims)" was included in the HCUP category "Invalid" (DISP = .A). Beginning in 1996, discharges with the source disposition "Admitted as an inpatient to this hospital (only for Medicare outpatient claims)" were excluded from the HCUP inpatient files.

In addition to the usual categories coded under died (DISP = 20), the following dispositions are included:

• "Expired at home,"
• "Expired in a medical facility," and
• "Expired, place unknown."

Beginning in 1995, Wisconsin reports two new categories:

• "Hospice - Medical Facility" which was recoded to the HCUP category "Another type of facility" (DISP = 5), and
• "Hospice - Home" which was recoded to the HCUP category "Home Health Care" (DISP = 6).