AHRQ CCS

Definition

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Clinical Classification Software (CCS) can be used to identify populations for disease- or procedure-specific studies or to develop statistical reports providing information (such as charges and length of stay) about relatively specific conditions. CCS was formerly called the Clinical Classifications for Health Policy Research (CCHPR). We've included three levels of codes from the AHRQ CCS for both diagnoses and procedures codes.

Note: for HCPCS codes, only the Single Level Category code is available.

Single Level Category:

• Diagnoses: The single-level diagnosis classification scheme aggregates illnesses and conditions into 285 mutually exclusive categories, most of which are clinically homogeneous. Some heterogeneous categories were necessary; these combine several less common individual conditions within a body system.
• Procedures: The single-level procedure classification scheme contains 231 mutually exclusive categories. Many of the categories represent single procedures; however, some procedures that occur infrequently are grouped according to three dimensions: 1) the relevant body system; 2) whether they are used for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes; and 3) whether they are considered operating room or non-operating room procedures, according to diagnosis related groups (DRG) definitions.

Multi-Level Tier 1: Broadest category grouping the Single-Level category around body systems (e.g., "Diseases of the Circulatory System")

• Diagnoses: 18 categories
• Procedures: 16 categories

Multi-Level Tier 2:

• Diagnoses: 130 categories
• Procedures: 187 categories

Related Objects

• Data Mart for Hospital Inpatient Admission Encounters
• Data Mart for Hospital Observation Stay Encounters

FAQs

None.