NFIRS 5.0 Element: ‘Patient Race’
Definition : The identification of the race of the patient, based on U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) designations.
Purpose : This entry is useful for the study of diseases and important to data systems in order to obtain certain Federal or State funds that are directed toward specific racial groups.

Entry : Check or mark the appropriate box. If race cannot be determined, check or mark the Undetermined box.
Element Specification
Specification | Value |
---|---|
Requirement | Optional |
Expected Length | 1 |
Element Type | Coded Field – The coded field relating to an entry in the code table. Most coded fields allow for Plus+ One codes. For these fields the expected length of the coded entry is depicted as (National length OR Plus+ One length). Only fields with this notation in the expected length column allow for Plus+ One definitions. If the user has not provided information, an empty field should be transmitted. |
RACE CODES
Here are the NFIRS codes for the ‘Patient Race’ element
Patient Race | Code |
---|---|
White | 1 |
Black or African American | 2 |
American Indian or Alaska Native | 3 |
Asian | 4 |
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 5 |
Other, Includes Multiracial | 0 |
Undetermined | U |
Transactions containing ‘Patient Race’
The value of this element is captured by the following transaction :
Need more NFIRS help?
Here are some other useful ressources to learn more about NFIRS.
NFIRS Codes Cheat Sheet – NFIRS Coding – NFIRS Examples – FDIDs – POCs – NFIRS Transactions – NFIRS Modules – NFIRS Elements – NFIRS Rules – NFIRS Reference – NFIRS Compliant ?
You can also read this NFIRS 5.0 Complete Reference Guide, and NFIRS 5.0 Design Documentation in order to have a deeper understanding of NFIRS 5.0. Here are also NFIRS 5.0 Forms ready for you to download and use.
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Last Updated on May 5, 2023