The Medicare Part D Prescriber Characteristics file contains descriptive information for the prescriber identified on a Part D Event file record.
What does this file include? (variable highlights)
- Primary Taxonomy Code
- Practice location (state)
- Academic or Professional Credential for the prescriber
- Linkage variables to the PDE file:
- CCW Prescriber Identifier
Why do researchers request this file?
- Studies describing prescribing patterns based on prescriber specialty
- Evaluation of clinical outcome based on prescriber characteristics
Special considerations
- Prior to CY2014 data, the prescriber ID is the encrypted CCW Prescriber ID, which cannot be linked to external, non-CMS Part D data sources.