Public Use Data File Format Specifications

Beginning with the December 31, 2022 version of the Public Use File:

• Labels for two adverse action classification codes (codes 1155, 1655) have been updated for the variables AACLASS1, AACLASS2, AACLASS3, AACLASS4, and AACLASS5.
• Three new basis for action codes (codes FE, FF, FG) and their labels have been added for the variables BASISCD1, BASISCD2, BASISCD3, BASISCD4, and BASISCD5.
• Labels for thirteen basis for action codes (codes H1, D2, D7, 31, 37, 39, 50, A1, F1, F2, F3, F4, F6) have been updated for the variables BASISCD1, BASISCD2, BASISCD3, BASISCD4, and BASISCD5.
• 12 basis for action codes (codes 05, 11, 12, 15, 25, 45, 84, A3, D6, D8, F5, F7) and their labels have been retired for the variables BASISCD1, BASISCD2, BASISCD3, BASISCD4, and BASISCD5.

Beginning with the June 30, 2021 version of the Public Use File:

• Label for one adverse action classification code (code 1179) has been updated for the variables AACLASS1, AACLASS2, AACLASS3, AACLASS4, and AACLASS5.
• Labels for five basis for action codes (codes H2, H3, H4, H5, H6) have been updated for the variables BASISCD1, BASISCD2, BASISCD3, BASISCD4, and BASISCD5.
• Labels for three report types (types 301, 302, 1302) have been updated for the variable REPTYPE.

Beginning with the June 30, 2019 version of the Public Use File:

• One new adverse action classification code (code 1155) and its label has been added for the variables AACLASS1, AACLASS2, AACLASS3, AACLASS4, and AACLASS5.
• Labels for 4 adverse action classification codes (codes 1138, 1139, 1150, 1338, 1339) have been updated for the variables AACLASS1, AACLASS2, AACLASS3, AACLASS4, and AACLASS5. "(NPDB Only)" text was removed from the description of these variables.
• Labels for 22 adverse action classification codes (codes 1310, 1325, 1335, 1338, 1339, 1340, 1345, 1346, 1347, 1348, 1349, 1351, 1373, 1389, 1399, 1480, 1482, 1483, 1485, 1495, 1496, 1497) have been updated for the variables AACLASS1, AACLASS2, AACLASS3, AACLASS4, and AACLASS5.
• Labels for occupation/field of licensure codes (codes 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, and 281) have been updated for the variable LICNFELD.

Beginning with June 30, 2017 version of the Public Use File, a new ".CSV" version of the Public Use File will be available for download along with the ".POR" and ".DAT" versions.

Beginning with the December 31, 2016 version of the Public Use File, a new adverse action classification code (code 1351) and its label has been added for the variables AACLASS1, AACLASS2, AACLASS3, AACLASS4, and AACLASS5. A description for one adverse action classification code (code 1179) has been changed. The description of code 1179 (Prescriptive Authority Action, Specify) was changed to Prescriptive/Dispensing Authority Action, Specify for the variables AACLASS1, AACLASS2, AACLASS3, AACLASS4, and AACLASS5.

Beginning with the June 30, 2016 version of the Public Use File, a description for one occupation/field of licensure code (code 1383) has been changed. The description of code 1383 (Intermed. Care Fclty For Mentally Retarded/Substance Abuse) was changed to Intermed. Care Fclty For Intellectually Disabled/Substance Abuse for the variable LICNFELD.

Beginning with the November 17, 2014 version of the Public Use File:

• Two new adverse action classification codes (codes 1151 and 1179) and their labels have been added for the variables AACLASS1, AACLASS2, AACLASS3, AACLASS4, and AACLASS5.
• Beginning with the November 17, 2014 version of the Public Use File, 21 new occupation/field of licensure codes (codes 76, 142, 176, 211, 281, 374, 471, 551, 604, 605, 613, 637, 649, 652, 653, 658, 662, 664, 665, 667 and 668) and their labels have been added for the variable LICNFELD.
• Beginning with the November 17, 2014 version of the Public Use File, labels for occupation/field of licensure codes (codes 15, 25, 100, 150, 660, 270, 642, 501, 503, 530, 758, and 810) have been updated for the variable LICNFELD.

On May 6, 2013, NPDB and HIPDB were merged into one Data Bank under Section 6403 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), Public Law 111-148, which was signed into law on March 23, 2010. All HIPDB data were transferred to the NPDB. As a result, users of the Public Use file may see a difference in the number of reports beginning with the June 30, 2013 version.

Beginning with the June 30, 2013 version of the Public Use File, SEQNO field size has been increased from 6 digits to 8 digits. Two additional fields NPGARPT and NPCTMRPT have been added.

Beginning with May 6, 2013, thirty-three adverse action classification codes (1521, 1531, 1533, 1536, 1539, 1552, 1556, 1561, 1563, 1566, 1579, 1580, 1581, 1582, 1583, 1584, 1588, 1598, 1599, 3231, 3234, 3521, 3538, 3539, 3579, 3580, 3581, 3582, 3583, 3584, 3588, 3598, and 3599) and their labels have been added for the variables AACLASS1, AACLASS2, AACLASS3, AACLASS4, and AACLASS5. Ten adverse action classification codes (1520, 1530, 1532, 1550, 1560, 1562, 1565, 1589, 3232, and 3589) and their labels have been retired for the variables AACLASS1, AACLASS2, AACLASS3, AACLASS4, and AACLASS5. One new basis for action code (72) and its label has been added for the variables BASISCD1, BASISCD2, BASISCD3, BASISCD4, and BASISCD5.

Beginning with the September 30, 2012 version of the Public Use File, two new Entity Type codes (code 110 and 170) and labels have been added for the variable TYPE.

Beginning on July 31, 2011, the variable "accrrpts" will be included in the Public-Use file. Due to this additional variable, the total number of variables in the Public-Use file is 52.

Beginning with the June 30, 2010 version of the Public Use File, two new adverse action classification codes (codes 1338 and 1339) and their labels have been added for the variables AACLASS1, AACLASS2, AACLASS3, AACLASS4, and AACLASS5.

Beginning with the March 30, 2010 version of the Public Use File, one new basis for action code (code 21) and its label has been added for the variables BASISCD1, BASISCD2, BASISCD3, BASISCD4, and BASISCD5.

Beginning with the June 30, 2009 version of the Public Use File:

• Seven new occupation/field of licensure codes (codes 501, 502, 503, 504, 540, 607 and 759) and their labels have been added for the variable LICNFELD.
• Fifteen new adverse action classification codes (codes 1283, 1297, 1514, 1615, 1637, 1638, 1642, 1643, 1644, 1655, 1656, 1682, 1696, 1735 and 1796) and their labels have been added for the variables AACLASS1, AACLASS2, AACLASS3, AACLASS4, and AACLASS5.
• Nineteen new basis for action codes (codes 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 35, 36, 37, 50, 70, 79, 84, AH, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8 and E6) and their labels have been added for the variables BASISCD1, BASISCD2, BASISCD3, BASISCD4, and BASISCD5.
• Two adverse action classification codes (codes 1950 and 3950), and one basis for action code (code 10) have been retired.
• Two descriptions of Occupation/Field of Licensure codes (codes 500 and 758) have been changed. The code number and description of code 500 (Medical Technologist) was changed to code 501 (Medical/Clinical Lab Technologist). The description of code 758 (Long-Term Care Administrator) was changed to Long-Term Care/Nursing Home Administrator.
• 3-digit TYPE codes and their labels have been added.

Beginning with the September 30, 2007 version of the Public Use File, twenty new adverse action classification codes (codes 1138, 1146*, 1310, 1325, 1335, 1340, 1345, 1346, 1347, 1348, 1349, 1373, 1389, 1399, 1480, 1482, 1485, 1495, 1496, 1634 and 1639) and their labels have been added for the variables AACLASS1, AACLASS2, AACLASS3, AACLASS4, and AACLASS5.

*Note of Change in Meaning of Code: Effective with the September 30, 2007 data file, Adverse Action Classification Code 1146 was reassigned to "Voluntary Limitation or Restriction on License". In earlier data files, code 1146 was used for "Reprimand, Censure, Voluntary Surrender of License (Individual) (Legacy Reports Only)." Code 1144 is now used for this category.

Beginning with files dated December 31, 2005 and later, four new field of license codes (codes 148, 165, 175, and 470) have been added for the LICNFELD variable and the description of LICNFELD in this documentation was updated to reflect the additions. Users should be cautious in interpreting results involving the new codes. Although these codes were first available to reporters on October 17, 2005, for this data file any previously filed reports which included a written in "other, specify" response that fit one of the newly available codes was coded to the new code in this file. However, reports which may actually involve a practitioner in a field with newly available code but which were actually reported using an old code could not be recoded to the new code. For example, a Certified Nurse Aide (new code 148) that was previously reported as a Nurse Aide (code 150) was not recoded to 148 since we have no way to tell from the record that the practitioner was actually a certified nurse aide. But if the individual was previously reported with "Certified Nurse Aide" written in the "other, specify" field, then the report was recoded to 148.

Beginning with files dated December 31, 2003 and later, this documentation file changed. The code list for the REPTYPE variable was updated.

Beginning with files dated June 30, 2003 and later, this documentation file changed. The code lists for the following variables were updated: LICNFELD, MALCODE1, AACLASS1, BASISCD1, and TYPE. New date of first use and date of last use columns also have been added to the description of the values for some variables. The date of first use and date of last use columns indicate the dates that the values were offered as selection criteria for report submission. When no date of first use is provided, the value has always been available. When no date of last use is provided, the value is currently available. The format for the data file was not changed.

Beginning with files dated September 30, 2002 and later, the format of the data file changed. The adverse action classification variable name (AACLASS) was changed to "AACLASS1" and four additional adverse action classification variables (AACLASS2, AACLASS3, AACLASS4, and AACLASS5) were included in the file. Therefore each record may have up to five adverse action classification codes.

Beginning with files dated April 30, 2002 and later, the format of the data file changed. The basis for action variable name (BASISCD) was changed to "BASISCD1" and four additional basis for action variables (BASISCD2, BASISCD3, BASISCD4, and BASISCD5) were included in the file. Therefore each record may have up to five basis for action codes.

Beginning with files dated December 31, 1999 and later, the format of the data file changed. Records of exclusions from participation in Medicare and Medicaid (individuals only, not organizations) were added to the file and variables concerning exclusions were added. Beginning with the file of December 31, 1999, the payment amount variable also was changed. Ranges of payment amounts have been established and all payments within a range are coded to the midpoint of the range. In addition, beginning with the file of December 31, 1999, the variables included for adverse action records were changed. Files dated December 31, 1999, and later also contain revised variables for counts of the number of reports of various types for each practitioner. See the descriptions of the variables below for details concerning the new or changed variables.

Beginning with files dated September 30, 1999 and later, the former "PROCYR" (year current version of the record was processed into the npdb) variable was changed to "ORIGYEAR" (year original version of the report was processed into the npdb). This variable does not change if a report is corrected or modified in a later year. The "TYPE" variable also replaced "ENTYTPDB" in the September 30, 1999 and later files. This reflects a change in entity type codes introduced during the summer of 1999. As reporting entities re-register with the NPDB, the type codes shown in this file will increasingly reflect use of the new codes; however since some reports included in this file were reported by entities which no longer exist or are no longer registered, some reports may permanently use the old entity type codes. See the explanation of "type" below.

Beginning with files dated April 30, 1999 and later, each record contained the variable "FUNDPYMT," which identifies malpractice payments made by State Patient Compensation Funds. In most cases these payments are in addition to payments made for the same practitioner for the same incident by a primary insurer.