DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 
7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop C2-21-15 
Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850 
Center for Medicaid and State Operations 
October 3, 2008                                                                                           SMDL #08-007 
Dear State Medicaid Director: 
I am pleased to inform you that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 
has created new opportunities for States to access Medicare Parts A, B, and D claims 
data.  CMS appreciates States interest in accessing this data and supports your efforts to 
use this data to improve the quality of care for dual-eligible beneficiaries. 
Medicare Parts A & B Data 
CMS currently provides paid Medicare Parts A and B crossover claims to State Medicaid 
Agencies that have Coordination of Benefits Agreements (COBAs) with CMS.  Under 
the current COBAs, the claims data may only be used to determine payment liability and 
coordinate payment for dual eligibles.  CMS is offering State Medicaid Agencies the 
opportunity to sign modified COBAs that will permit them to seek written permission 
from CMS to use the data for quality improvement activities and to re-release the data for 
treatment and other purposes.  CMS retains the right to approve or deny any such 
requests.  States will have an opportunity to sign modified agreements beginning in 
September 2008.  The attached enclosure provides more information about this 
opportunity.  States that have additional questions may contact John M. Young, Acting 
Director, Division of Quality, Evaluation and Health Outcomes, at 410-786-0505 or 
john.young@cms.hhs.gov. 
Medicare Part D Data 
Historically, States Medicaid Agencies have only been able to access Part D data to 
determine payment liability and coordinate payment for dual eligibles.  On May 28, 2008, 
CMS published a final rule that will enable States Medicaid Agencies to request from 
CMS Part D claims prescription drug event data for research, care coordination, quality 
improvement, program oversight and monitoring, and other purposes.  We expect 2006 
and 2007 Part D prescription drug event data to be available beginning this winter.  More 
information on the Part D Data rule, including the final rule, a fact sheet, frequently asked 
questions, a comparison of the proposed and the final rule and Prescription Data Element 
list may be found at: 
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/Prescription DrugCovGenIn/08_PartDData.asp#TopOfPage. 
States should review CMS Guide to Requesting Part D Data, which is available at 
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PrescriptionDrugCovGenIn/08_PartDData.asp.  This guide 
includes an explanation of the request process, our minimum data necessary policy, and 
the potential limitations to the Part D prescription drug event data being requested.  It is 
important to note that all requests for Part D data, as well as further inquiries regarding   Page 2 - State Medicaid Director 
data requests should be submitted to CMS contractor - Research Data Assistance Center  
(ResDAC).  States should contact ResDAC at (888) 973-7322 or consult their Web site at 
http://www.resdac.umn.edu for further information regarding the request process. 
Thank you for your attention to this letter.  We hope that the increased availability of 
Medicare Parts A, B, and D claims data will help CMS and States to achieve our shared 
goal of delivering high-value health care. 
Sincerely, 
/s/ 
Herb B. Kuhn 
Deputy Administrator 
Acting Director, Center for Medicaid and State Operations 
Enclosure 
cc: 
CMS Regional Administrators 
CMS Associate Regional Administrators 
Division of Medicaid and Childrens Health 
Ann C. Kohler 
NASMD Executive Director 
American Public Human Services Association 
Joy Wilson 
Director, Health Committee 
National Conference of State Legislatures 
Matt Salo 
Director of Health Legislation 
National Governors Association 
Debra Miller 
Director for Health Policy 
Council of State Governments 
Christie Raniszewski Herrera 
Director, Health and Human Services Task Force 
American Legislative Exchange Council  Page 3 - State Medicaid Director 
Barbara W. Levine 
Chief, Government Relations and Legal Affairs 
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials