Optum’s de-identified Clinformatics® Data Mart Database (CDM) is a statistically-deidentified, HIPAA-compliant, closed system of administrative health claims composed of members with commercial and Medicare Advantage plans. These administrative claims are submitted for payment by providers and pharmacies and are verified, adjudicated, adjusted, and de-identified prior to inclusion. CDM includes claims for about 67 million people from all 50 U.S. states. The database includes information on patient enrollment; medical claims, pharmacy claims, inpatient confinement claims, and lab results; details about providers, including medical specialties, are also included. Optum has licensed this data to Indiana University for use in research projects. IU researchers have access to three distinct views of data from CDM.
Optum Clinformatics Data Mart
Available Data
This data view includes geographical information (5-digit zip code).
Researchers are not able to combine the ZIP5, SES, and DOD-R views.
The SES data view includes additional socioeconomic status variables.
Researchers are not able to combine the ZIP5, SES, and DOD-R views.
The DODR view contains information on date of death plus race.
Researchers are not able to combine the ZIP5, SES, and DOD-R views.
Access Requirements and Process
To be approved for access these data, researchers must complete a required training, sign user agreements, and have a Slate Project account. More information is available in our IU Optum Data Information Intranet site (available only to IU researchers with CAS login).
Recent IU Research Using Optum Data
Nguyen, Thuy, Ulrike Muench, Barbara Andraka-Christou, Kosali Simon, W. David Bradford, and Joanne Spetz. 2021. “The Association Between Scope of Practice Regulations and Nurse Practitioner Prescribing of Buprenorphine After the 2016 Opioid Bill.” Medical Care Research and Review. https://doi.org/10.1177/10775587211004311.
Sacks, Daniel W., Alex Hollingsworth, Thuy Nguyen, and Kosali Simon. 2021. “Can Policy Affect Initiation of Addictive Substance Use? Evidence from Opioid Prescribing.” Journal of Health Economics 76 (March): 102397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhealeco.2020.102397. IU Proxy Link
Gupta, Sumedha, Thuy D. Nguyen, Patricia R. Freeman, and Kosali I. Simon. 2020. “Competitive Effects of Federal and State Opioid Restrictions: Evidence from the Controlled Substance Laws.” Working Paper 27520. National Bureau of Economic Research. https://doi.org/10.3386/w27520.
Perry, Brea L., Kai Cheng Yang, Patrick Kaminski, Meltem Odabas, Jaehyuk Park, Michelle Martel, Carrie B. Oser, Patricia R. Freeman, Yong-Yeol Ahn, and Jeffery Talbert. 2019. “Co-Prescription Network Reveals Social Dynamics of Opioid Doctor Shopping.” PLOS ONE 14 (10): e0223849. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0223849.