CMS Standard Analytic Files Details

Data dictionaries can be found here.

Type of Data

Administrative billing database

Years Available

At OSU: 2012*-2022
NOTE: 2013-2022 data contain mortality and enrollment status data whereas 2012 data does not.

Short Description

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Standard Analytic Files (SAFs) contain inpatient, outpatient, skilled nursing facility, and Hospice data for ALL Medicare beneficiaries across the United States.

Strengths

  • Financial data including: amount billed to CMS and amount CMS paid out
  • Completely representative of the CMS population across the U.S
  • Geographic information includes beneficiary state and county which can be linked with external data sources
  • Physician and provider IDs are provided as NPIs which can be linked with external data sources
    • In addition, physician and provider volume can be calculated

Limitations

  • Clinically nuanced data is not available (only data points which can be derived from ICD-9/10, CPT codes, clinician and facility identifiers, and county of residence can be utilized)
  • Analyses of financial data cannot be translated to the non-CMS insured population

SDC Members with Expertise

SDC Partners with Expertise