Data Sources
Data for this project came from seven distinct sources, described in more detail below.
| Data Element | Source(s) |
|---|---|
| List of colleges | Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), state community college system and higher education system websites |
| College enrollment | IPEDS |
| Pell grant recipient information | IPEDS |
| Percentage of students with disabilities | IPEDS |
| College location and directory information | IPEDS |
| List of nearby school districts | National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) School and District Navigator |
| Medicaid reimbursement information | Public records requests |
| Medicaid participation status | Public records requests, National Provider Identification Registry |
| Health services offered | Review of community college websites, health services survey |
| Cost of health services offered | Health services survey |
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) collects data on postsecondary education in the United States in eight areas: institutional characteristics; institutional prices; admissions; enrollment; student financial aid; degrees and certificates conferred; student persistence and success; and institutional resources including human, resources, finance, and academic libraries.
State Community College System and Higher Education System Websites
The website for each state’s community college and/or higher education system was reviewed, if available, and cross-referenced with the list of community colleges generated from IPEDS to populate the list of community colleges included in this study.
Public Records Requests
Public records requests were sent to each state Medicaid agency and each college that was identified as having an active National Provider Identification number (which indicates the college had officially registered as a Medicaid provider). Requests asked each Medicaid agency and identified college to provide the amount of Medicaid reimbursement received by each college and local education agency in each year from 2018 to the present.
NCES School and District Navigator
The School and District Navigator is an interactive mapping tool for K–12 school districts that was used to identify which K–12 school districts are closest in proximity to each community college included in this study.
Review of Community College Websites
The website of each community college included in this study was reviewed to assess which health services, if any, are currently offered by the college.
Health Services Survey
Each college included in this study was invited to participate in a health services survey that asked for information on the health services provided by the college, the cost of each type of health service provided, the number of students receiving each type of health service, and the college’s history of participation in the Medicaid program.
National Provider Identification Registry
The National Plan & Provider Enumeration System’s National Provider Identification Registry is a searchable database of all individuals and organizations that have received a National Provider Identification number, which is necessary for an entity to be able to bill Medicaid for eligible services.