Frequently Asked Questions are used to provide additional information and/or statutory guidance not found in State Medicaid Director Letters, State Health Official Letters, or CMCS Informational Bulletins. The different sets of FAQs as originally released can be accessed below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often are the State Drug Utilization Data (SDUD) and the National Summary Utilization Data updated and posted to the website?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) posts updated State Drug Utilization Data (SDUD) according to the following schedule:
- 1st Quarter (plus 5 preceding years of data): Available in August, and includes any late data reporting for 1st Quarter received from States through the end of June, plus any updates to the five preceding years of data.
- 2nd Quarter (plus 5 preceding years of data): Available in November, and includes any late data reporting for 2nd Quarter received from States through the end of September, plus any updates to the 5 preceding years of data.
- *3rd Quarter (update of all preceding years): Available in February, and includes any late data reporting for 3rd Quarter received from States through the end of December, plus any updates to the five preceding years of data.
- 4th Quarter (plus 5 preceding years of data): Available in May, and includes any late data reporting for 4th Quarter received from States through the end of March, plus any updates to the five preceding years of data.
*An update of all preceding years of State Drug Utilization Data (1991 to 3rd Quarter) are posted to the website annually during the month of February. The data posted includes utilization information received from States through the end of December. The National Totals represent aggregate data by NDC-11.
See Also: With regards to State Drug Utilization Data (SDUD), is the data for each quarter's posting always comprehensive?
FAQ ID:92101
SHARE URLWhat Dataset Views are available for the State Drug Utilization Data (SDUD)?
Per the state drug utilization data table, the "Dataset Views" dropdown selections available are:
- State: State-specific data at the NDC-11 level, for a quarter/year.
- Full Dataset (States + National Totals): A compilation of all the individual state utilization data (50 states plus Washington D.C.) and the National Totals at the NDC-11 level, for a selected year.
- All States: Includes data for all states but does not include the National Totals
- National Totals: Data are aggregated for all 50 states and Washington, D.C. at the NDC-11 level, for a quarter/year.
Since all of the states are combined in the National Totals, the state abbreviation will show on the "Annual State Detail" with a state abbreviation of "XX".
Users can also generate his or her own views of the dataset on data.medicaid.gov.
FAQ ID:91786
SHARE URLWhy am I unable to see all of the data in the dataset/view?
You are likely running into a limitation of the program you are trying to use to analyze the data. Microsoft Excel allows 1,048,576 rows of data and many of our datasets exceed this limit.
We recommend users not use Excel for large datasets but instead use another application that can work with datasets of large size (e.g. Microsoft Access).
FAQ ID:91801
SHARE URLWhy is there a State column labeled XX when viewed as National Totals in the State Drug Utilization Data (SDUD)?
Since all of the states are combined in the National Totals, the state abbreviation will show on the "National Totals" and "Annual State Detail" option as "XX".
See Also:
FAQ ID:91811
SHARE URLWhy does some State Drug Utilization Data (SDUD) have an asterisk?
As CMS is obligated by the Federal Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. Section 552a and the HIPAA Privacy Rule, 45 C.F.R Parts 160 and 164, to protect the privacy of individual beneficiaries and other persons, all direct identifiers have been removed and data that are less than eleven (11) counts are suppressed. An asterisk (*) notes suppressed data. CMS applies counter or secondary suppression in cases where only one prescription is suppressed for primary reasons, e.g. one prescription in a state. Also, if one sub-group (e.g. number of prescription) is suppressed, then the other sub-group is suppressed.
See Also:
- What fields changed when CMS moved the State Drug Utilization Data (SDUD) to data.medicaid.gov?
- What are the data field descriptions for the State Drug Utilization Data (SDUD)?
- Is the redacted State Drug Utilization Data (SDUD) available to the public?
FAQ ID:91831
SHARE URLIs the redacted State Drug Utilization Data (SDUD) available to the public?
No. In accordance with federal laws, State Drug Utilization Data (SDUD) that has been suppressed is not available for public consumption. As CMS is obligated by the Federal Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. Section 552a and the HIPAA Privacy Rule, 45 C.F.R Parts 160 and 164, to protect the privacy of individual beneficiaries and other persons, all direct identifiers have been removed and data that are less than eleven (11) counts are suppressed. A checkmark in the "Suppression Used" column notes suppressed data. CMS applies counter or secondary suppression in cases where only one prescription is suppressed for primary reasons, (e.g., one prescription in a state). Also, if one sub-group (e.g., number of prescriptions) is suppressed, then the other sub-group is suppressed.
FAQ ID:91856
SHARE URLDoes the State Drug Utilization Data (SDUD) reported for each quarter's posting always include all of the quarterly data reported by states?
If the data arrives late, it may miss the quarterly posting. However, it will be included in the next quarter's web posting.
FAQ ID:91916
SHARE URLWhat are the data field descriptions for the State Drug Utilization Data (SDUD)?
For current versions of MDRP File Formats/Data Definitions, please refer to:Â https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/prescription-drugs/medicaid-drug-rebate-program/medicaid-drug-rebate-program-mdrp-file-formats-data-definitions-and-medicaid-drug-programs-mdp-email-communications/index.html
See Also:
- What fields changed when CMS moved the State Drug Utilization Data (SDUD) to data.medicaid.gov?
- Is the redacted State Drug Utilization Data (SDUD) available to the public?
FAQ ID:91956
SHARE URLA number of provisions in the Final Rule were not subject to substantive changes but were redesignated in a new section in 42 CFR part 438 and have an implementation date of July 5, 2016. Will states be required to amend regulatory citations in approved contracts or contracts currently under CMS review?
CMS understands that many managed care contracts include a general provision that incorporates changes in federal law during the course of the contract term. Amendments to approved contracts, or contracts under CMS review, for the purpose of updating regulatory citations is not necessary. However, the citations will need to be updated for the next contract year. Outdated regulatory citations in contracts without such a general provision will need to be updated for the next contract year.
Supplemental Links:
- This FAQ was released as part of a larger set. View the full set. (PDF, 185.26 KB)
FAQ ID:93426
SHARE URLDo all states need to submit contracts and rate certifications to CMS 90 days prior to the effective date of the contract pursuant to section 438.3(a)?
No. If a state does not have a state law or policy that requires CMS approval of the contract and capitation rates prior to the effective date of the contract, the 90 day timeframe is not applicable. However, as a general matter, states should submit the contracts and rates 90 days prior to the start of the contract term. CMS intends to provide future guidance on the prior approval requirements as a condition of claiming FFP in section 438.806, which are distinct from the requirements at section 438.3(a).
Supplemental Links:
- This FAQ was released as part of a larger set. View the full set. (PDF, 185.26 KB)
FAQ ID:93431
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