Identifying chronic conditions in Medicare claims data: evaluating the Chronic Condition Data Warehouse algorithm.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To examine the strengths and limitations of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Chronic Condition Data Warehouse (CCW) algorithm for identifying chronic conditions in older persons from Medicare beneficiary data.

Data sources

Records from participants of the NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study (NHEFS 1971-1992) linked to Medicare claims data from 1991 to 2000.

Study design

We estimated the percent of preexisting cases of chronic conditions correctly identified by the CCW algorithm during its reference period and the number of years of claims data necessary to find a preexisting condition.

Principal findings

The CCW algorithm identified 69 percent of preexisting diabetes cases but only 17 percent of preexisting arthritis cases. Cases iden

SUBMITTER: Gorina Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3207195 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature