SEER-Medicare: Measurement & Methods

The SEER-Medicare data have great potential utility for a variety of analyses. However, the files are complex. With the growing use of these data, there is a need to encourage consistent measures and methods across projects. In November, 2000, the National Cancer Institute convened a two-day meeting of researchers who are experienced in the use of SEER-Medicare or other claims databases. The goal of the meeting was to identify common issues related to the use of these data and promote more standardized measures and methods among researchers using the SEER-Medicare data. Proceedings from this meeting have been published as a supplement to the August 2002 issue of Medical Care. A table of contents for the supplement is provided below.

• Overview of the SEER-Medicare Data: Content, Research Applications, and Generalizability to the US Elderly Population;
• Use of the SEER-Medicare Data to Measure:
  • Patient Demographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics;
  • Comorbidity;
  • Breast, Colorectal, and Prostate Cancer Screening;
  • Cancer Surgery;
  • Radiation Therapy (includes codes to identify radiation therapy);
  • Chemotherapy Use (includes codes to identify chemotherapy);
  • Complications of Cancer Treatment;
  • Surveillance After Cancer Treatment;
  • Cancer Relapse;
  • Physician Characteristics;
  • Hospital Characteristics;
  • Health Care Costs Related to Cancer Treatment.

Warren JL, Klabunde CN, Schrag D, Bach PB, Riley GF. Overview of the SEER-Medicare data: content, research applications, and generalizability to the United States elderly population. Med Care 2002 Aug;40(8 Suppl):IV-3-18. [View abstract on PubMed]