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)

  • Pharmacy type
  • Pharmacy dispenser type code
  • Pharmacy primary taxonomy code
  • DME service
  • Walk-in service
  • Linking variable to the PDE file:
    • CCW Pharmacy ID

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 CY 2014 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 2006-2022

Date Requests Can Be Accepted for Upcoming Releases:

CY 2023 available 12/2024

See what is in this file