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SAS Name
PRIMARY_TAXONOMY_DESC
This is the description of the taxonomy code for the prescriber. This field allows researchers to better understand the type of provider who prescribed the medication (e.g., by knowing the type of provider and his/her specialty).
Values: (e.g., 207R00000X= Internal Medicine)
Source: HCIdea™ Prescriber Database
We populated this variable in the Part D Prescriber Characteristics file by linking to the proprietary HCIdea™ Prescriber Database. HCIdea obtains prescriber information from a variety of data sources, including the NPPES directory (which has each unique NPI that has been assigned to a provider), the Drug Enforcement Administration, and SureScripts (a nationwide e-prescribing network). This variable is the primary taxonomy code listed for the prescriber in the NPPES directory.
This variable corresponds with the PRIMARY_TAXONOMY_CD variable, which provides the taxonomy code number associated with this description. There are up to four additional taxonomy groupings for the prescriber in the Prescriber Characteristics file (reference OTHER_TAXONOMY_CLASS01 through OTHER_TAXONOMY_CLASS04), which can be identified using this description variable.
Taxonomy codes are assigned by the National Uniform Claims Committee (NUCC). For a current list of NUCC Provider Taxonomy Codes and Descriptions reference the Code Sets link at http://www.nucc.org/.