HCUP stands for which organization?

• A. Health Care Utilization Program
• B. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project
• C. Health Cost and Utilization Plan
• D. Healthcare Commission for Utilization and Payment

Answer: (B)

HCUP stands for Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. This is a research initiative, not a separate organization, developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to assemble hospital care databases and analytic tools that study utilization, costs, and outcomes. The “Project” designation emphasizes its collaborative, data-driven mission, which includes resources like the National Inpatient Sample and Kids’ Inpatient Database. The other options use terms like program, plan, or commission, which do not reflect the official name.