Unique Physician Identification Number (UPIN)
Study Number	A15_99
Background of Dataset
Purpose of the Data Set	The file contains the Unique Physician Identification Number (UPIN) directory for 1999. The directory contains information on practicing physicians in the United States, which is updated yearly.
Criteria(s) for Inclusion/Exclusion	All Practicing Physicians Reimbursed by Medicare
Age Range Included	N/A
Method(s) of Data Gathering	N/A
Sampling Frame/Design	N/A
Limitation(s) of Study	None
Year(s) Available	1999
Number of Observations	N/A
Unit of Observation	Physician
Publisher	Department of Health and Human Services, Health Care Financing Administration (2000)
Contact Information/Web Address	N/A
Condition of Use	N/A
Contents of Database
Key Linking Variables
•Patient identifier
•Physician identifier	UPIN
•Health facility identifier
•Geographic identifier	State, Zip Code
•Other identifier
Demographics Information	N/A
Access/Utilization Information	N/A
Health Care Facility Information	N/A
Physician Information
•Specialty	Yes
•Name	Yes
•License Number
•Other information	Credentials (e.g. MD, DDS)
Cost/Expenditure Information	N/A
Other Information	N/A