Part D Pharmacy Characteristics File

The Part D Pharmacy Characteristics file provides information about the pharmacy identified as the source of the drug for each Part D Event (PDE) prescription fill record.

What does this file include? (variable highlights)

Why do researchers request this file?

  • Evaluate medication possession rates by pharmacy type
  • Assess the effect of pharmacy type on clinical outcomes

Special considerations

  • Beginning with the CY2014 file, it is possible to request an unencrypted pharmacy identifier.
  • Researchers who request and are approved by CMS for unencrypted variables will be able to link to third party data for pharmacy characteristics.

Availability of this file

Availability:

CY 2006-2021

Date Requests Can Be Accepted for Upcoming Releases:

CY 2022 available 12/2023

See what is in this file