NCHS Data Linked to CMS Medicare Enrollment and Claims Files

NCHS has developed a record linkage program designed to maximize the scientific value of the Center's population-based surveys. NCHS is currently linking various NCHS surveys with Medicare enrollment and claims records collected from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Linkage of the NCHS survey participants with the CMS Medicare data provides the opportunity to study changes in health status, health care utilization and expenditures in the elderly and disabled U.S. population.

 

Overview of NCHS-CMS Medicare Linkage

Medicare enrollment and claims data are available for those NCHS respondents who agreed to provide personal identification data to NCHS and for whom NCHS was able to match with Medicare administrative records. CMS provided NCHS with Medicare benefit claims data for 1991 through 2007 for all successfully matched NCHS survey participants. For certain NCHS surveys, the Medicare administrative files include data from before and after the survey year of interview. CMS also provided to NCHS Medicare Part D data for 2006 and 2007; and Chronic Condition (CC) Summary data for 2005 through 2007.

NCHS Surveys linked to CMS Medicare data (1991–2007)

• 1994-1998 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
• NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study (NHEFS, 1971-1992)
• Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988-1994)
• The Second Longitudinal Study of Aging (LSOA II, 1994-2000)

NCHS Surveys linked to CMS Medicare data (1999–2007)

• 1999-2005 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
• 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
• 2004 National Nursing Home Survey (NNHS)

 

Accessing the NCHS-CMS Medicare Data

The linked NCHS-CMS Medicare files are restricted-use files that can be accessed through the NCHS Research Data Center (RDC). NCHS has created Feasibility Study Data files to assist researchers who are considering submitting an RDC application to analyze the linked NCHS- CMS Medicare data.

 

Analytic/Programming Support

• Important Information on Merging Restricted and Public Use NCHS Survey Data [PDF - 88 KB]
• Description of the Linked CMS Medicare Data [PDF - 204 KB]
• List of Variables [PDF - 249 KB]
• NCHS-CMS Medicare Data File Documentation
• CMS Medicare Enrollment and Claims Data Analytic Issues [PDF - 104 KB]
• Use of Survey Weights for Linked Data Files [PDF - 26 KB]
• Important Information Related to NCHS Survey Participants Under 18 Years of Age at the Time of the Survey PDF - 51 KB]
• Managed Care Enrollment Tables for NCHS-CMS Medicare Linked Data [PDF - 70 KB]
• CMS Medicare Linkage Methodology Report [PDF - 98 KB]
• Match Rate Table for NCHS-CMS Medicare Linked Data [PDF - 23 KB]
• Sample Counts for NCHS-CMS Medicare Linked Data [PDF - 138 KB]
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) regarding the CMS Medicare data (Links to ResDAC)

 

Contact Information

After carefully reviewing web documentation, any remaining questions can be directed to:

• Questions Pertaining to CMS Medicare Data file content:

  Research Data Assistance Center (ResDAC)
  Email: resdac@umn.edu
  Phone: 1-888-9-ResDAC or (1-888-973-7322)
  Fax: 612-378-4866
  URL: www.resdac.umn.edu

• Questions regarding access to the NCHS-CMS Medicare data files:

  Email: NCHS Research Data Center Data Query

• Questions involving NCHS survey linkage methodology issues:

  Email: NCHS Data Linkage Team