Limited Data Set (LDS) Files

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) makes Limited Data Set (LDS) files available to researchers as allowed by federal laws and regulations as well as CMS policy. LDS files contain beneficiary-level health information and are considered identifiable files, but they do not contain specific direct identifiers as defined in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule (HIPAA Privacy Rule).

For detailed information on each of the LDS files that CMS allows researchers to request, please use the navigation menu on the left.

To request LDS files, please follow the instructions on the Limited Data Set Files Data Use Agreements page.

To view information on the estimated timeline for updates to LDS file availability, please select the drop-down option below.