{
 "id": "cms:be64fce3-e835-4589-b46b-024198e524a6",
 "slug": "medicaid-spending-by-drug",
 "source": "data.cms.gov",
 "title": "Medicaid Spending by Drug",
 "summary": "Medicaid spending on covered outpatient drugs, with average spending per dosage unit, change over time, manufacturers and drug uses.",
 "description": "The Medicaid by Drug dataset presents information on spending for covered outpatient drugs prescribed to beneficiaries enrolled in Medicaid by physicians and other healthcare professionals. The dataset focuses on average spending per dosage unit and change in average spending per dosage unit over time. Units refer to the drug unit in the lowest dispensable amount. It also includes spending information for manufacturer(s) of the drugs as well as consumer-friendly information of drug uses and clinical indications. Drug spending metrics for Medicaid represent the total amount reimbursed by both Medicaid and non-Medicaid entities to pharmacies for the drug. Medicaid drug spending contains both the Federal and State reimbursement and is inclusive of any applicable dispensing fees. In addition, this total is not reduced or affected by Medicaid rebates paid to the states.",
 "aliases": [
  "medicaid drug spending",
  "medicaid drug costs"
 ],
 "keywords": [
  "Medicaid",
  "Physicians & Practitioners",
  "Drugs"
 ],
 "themes": [
  "Medicaid"
 ],
 "topics": [
  "drugs",
  "medicaid-chip",
  "spending-utilization",
  "doctors"
 ],
 "category": "summary-statistics-on-use-and-payments",
 "publisher": "Office of Enterprise Data and Analytics (OEDA)",
 "contact": "IPAG_Data_Products@cms.hhs.gov",
 "landing_url": "https://data.cms.gov/summary-statistics-on-use-and-payments/medicare-medicaid-spending-by-drug/medicaid-spending-by-drug",
 "csv_url": "https://data.cms.gov/sites/default/files/2026-06/ae1c5e06-957d-42dd-b783-e7fe598c01c9/DSD_MCD_RY26_P06_V20_D24_BGM.csv",
 "api_url": "https://data.cms.gov/data-api/v1/dataset/be64fce3-e835-4589-b46b-024198e524a6/data",
 "api_kind": "cms-data-api",
 "preview_url": "https://data.cms.gov/data-api/v1/dataset/be64fce3-e835-4589-b46b-024198e524a6/data?size=10",
 "dictionary_url": "https://data.cms.gov/resources/medicaid-spending-by-drug-data-dictionary",
 "dictionary_kind": "page",
 "methodology_urls": [
  "https://data.cms.gov/resources/medicaid-spending-by-drug-methodology"
 ],
 "state_column": null,
 "row_count": 18511,
 "posted": "2026-06-25",
 "modified": "2026-06-25",
 "period_start": "2024-01-01",
 "period_end": "2024-12-31",
 "latest_period": "2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31",
 "cadence": "annually",
 "next_update": null,
 "versions": [
  {
   "label": "2024-01-01",
   "uuid": "be64fce3-e835-4589-b46b-024198e524a6",
   "posted": "2026-06-25",
   "period_start": "2024-01-01",
   "period_end": "2024-12-31"
  }
 ],
 "columns": [
  {
   "name": "Brnd_Name",
   "label": "Brand Name",
   "type": "string",
   "meaning": "The name of the drug filled. This includes both brand names (drugs that have a trademarked name) and generic names (drugs that do not have a trademarked name). *Average spending per dosage unit reflects multiple routes of administration of the drug (e.g., intravenous, subcutaneous) which individually may have different unit pricing. Additional information regarding calculation of spending per unit can be found in the methodology document. ^Drug identified as outlier; use measures based on Average Spending per Dosage Unit with caution. See methodology document for additional details.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Gnrc_Name",
   "label": "Generic Name",
   "type": "string",
   "meaning": "A term referring to the chemical ingredient of a drug rather than the trademarked brand name under which the drug is sold.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Tot_Mftr",
   "label": "Number of Manufacturers",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Number of manufacturers for each drug.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Mftr_Name",
   "label": "Manufacturer",
   "type": "string",
   "meaning": "Name of the manufacturer of the drug.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Tot_Spndng_2020",
   "label": "2020 Total Spending",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Aggregate drug spending for the Medicaid program during the benefit year.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Tot_Dsg_Unts_2020",
   "label": "2020 Total Dosage Units",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "The sum of the dosage units of medication dispensed across the calendar year (e.g. number of tablets, grams, milliliters or other units). Unit refers to the drug unit in the lowest dispensable amount.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Tot_Clms_2020",
   "label": "2020 Total Claims",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Number of prescription fills for each drug. Includes original prescriptions and refills.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Avg_Spnd_Per_Dsg_Unt_Wghtd_2020",
   "label": "2020 Average Total Spending Per Dosage Unit (Weighted)",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Medicaid drug spending divided by the number of dosage units, which is weighted by the proportion of total claims.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Avg_Spnd_Per_Clm_2020",
   "label": "2020 Average Total Spending Per Claim",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Medicaid drug spending divided by the number of prescription fills.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Outlier_Flag_2020",
   "label": "2020 Outlier Flag",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Yearly outlier flag variable, which is set to “1” when a drug’s Average Spending per Dosage Unit is substantially impacted by outlier records in a given year. These potentially anomalous drugs are identified as outliers so that users can exercise caution when interpreting results. See the methodology document for additional details.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Tot_Spndng_2021",
   "label": "2021 Total Spending",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Aggregate drug spending for the Medicaid program during the benefit year.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Tot_Dsg_Unts_2021",
   "label": "2021 Total Dosage Units",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "The sum of the dosage units of medication dispensed across the calendar year (e.g. number of tablets, grams, milliliters or other units). Unit refers to the drug unit in the lowest dispensable amount.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Tot_Clms_2021",
   "label": "2021 Total Claims",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Number of prescription fills for each drug. Includes original prescriptions and refills.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Avg_Spnd_Per_Dsg_Unt_Wghtd_2021",
   "label": "2021 Average Total Spending Per Dosage Unit (Weighted)",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Medicaid drug spending divided by the number of dosage units, which is weighted by the proportion of total claims.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Avg_Spnd_Per_Clm_2021",
   "label": "2021 Average Total Spending Per Claim",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Medicaid drug spending divided by the number of prescription fills.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Outlier_Flag_2021",
   "label": null,
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": null,
   "source": "cms-api"
  },
  {
   "name": "Tot_Spndng_2022",
   "label": "2022 Total Spending",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Aggregate drug spending for the Medicaid program during the benefit year.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Tot_Dsg_Unts_2022",
   "label": "2022 Total Dosage Units",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "The sum of the dosage units of medication dispensed across the calendar year (e.g. number of tablets, grams, milliliters or other units). Unit refers to the drug unit in the lowest dispensable amount.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Tot_Clms_2022",
   "label": "2022 Total Claims",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Number of prescription fills for each drug. Includes original prescriptions and refills.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Avg_Spnd_Per_Dsg_Unt_Wghtd_2022",
   "label": "2022 Average Total Spending Per Dosage Unit (Weighted)",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Medicaid drug spending divided by the number of dosage units, which is weighted by the proportion of total claims.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Avg_Spnd_Per_Clm_2022",
   "label": "2022 Average Total Spending Per Claim",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Medicaid drug spending divided by the number of prescription fills.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Outlier_Flag_2022",
   "label": "2022 Outlier Flag",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Yearly outlier flag variable, which is set to “1” when a drug’s Average Spending per Dosage Unit is substantially impacted by outlier records in a given year. These potentially anomalous drugs are identified as outliers so that users can exercise caution when interpreting results. See the methodology document for additional details.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Tot_Spndng_2023",
   "label": "2023 Total Spending",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Aggregate drug spending for the Medicaid program during the benefit year.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Tot_Dsg_Unts_2023",
   "label": "2023 Total Dosage Units",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "The sum of the dosage units of medication dispensed across the calendar year (e.g. number of tablets, grams, milliliters or other units). Unit refers to the drug unit in the lowest dispensable amount.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Tot_Clms_2023",
   "label": "2023 Total Claims",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Number of prescription fills for each drug. Includes original prescriptions and refills.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Avg_Spnd_Per_Dsg_Unt_Wghtd_2023",
   "label": "2023 Average Total Spending Per Dosage Unit (Weighted)",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Medicaid drug spending divided by the number of dosage units, which is weighted by the proportion of total claims.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Avg_Spnd_Per_Clm_2023",
   "label": "2023 Average Total Spending Per Claim",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Medicaid drug spending divided by the number of prescription fills.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Outlier_Flag_2023",
   "label": "2023 Outlier Flag",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Yearly outlier flag variable, which is set to “1” when a drug’s Average Spending per Dosage Unit is substantially impacted by outlier records in a given year. These potentially anomalous drugs are identified as outliers so that users can exercise caution when interpreting results. See the methodology document for additional details.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Tot_Spndng_2024",
   "label": "2024 Total Spending",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Aggregate drug spending for the Medicaid program during the benefit year.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Tot_Dsg_Unts_2024",
   "label": "2024 Total Dosage Units",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "The sum of the dosage units of medication dispensed across the calendar year (e.g. number of tablets, grams, milliliters or other units). Unit refers to the drug unit in the lowest dispensable amount.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Tot_Clms_2024",
   "label": "2024 Total Claims",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Number of prescription fills for each drug. Includes original prescriptions and refills.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Avg_Spnd_Per_Dsg_Unt_Wghtd_2024",
   "label": "2024 Average Total Spending Per Dosage Unit (Weighted)",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Medicaid drug spending divided by the number of dosage units, which is weighted by the proportion of total claims.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Avg_Spnd_Per_Clm_2024",
   "label": "2024 Average Total Spending Per Claim",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Medicaid drug spending divided by the number of prescription fills.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Outlier_Flag_2024",
   "label": "2024 Outlier Flag",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "Yearly outlier flag variable, which is set to “1” when a drug’s Average Spending per Dosage Unit is substantially impacted by outlier records in a given year. These potentially anomalous drugs are identified as outliers so that users can exercise caution when interpreting results.See the methodology document for additional details.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "Chg_Avg_Spnd_Per_Dsg_Unt_23_24",
   "label": "Change in Average Total Spending Per Dosage Unit (2023-2024)",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "The percent change in average spending per dosage unit from the prior year.",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  },
  {
   "name": "CAGR_Avg_Spnd_Per_Dsg_Unt_20_24",
   "label": "Annual Growth Rate in Average Total Spending Per Dosage Unit (2020-2024)",
   "type": "number",
   "meaning": "The constant average change in spending per dosage unit over the most recent five years of data availability, calculated using the compound annual growth rate (CAGR).",
   "source": "cms-dictionary"
  }
 ],
 "caveats": [
  "Spending includes federal and state reimbursement and dispensing fees, and is not reduced by Medicaid rebates paid to states."
 ],
 "curated": true,
 "license": "https://www.usa.gov/government-works",
 "detail_key": "be64fce3-e835-4589-b46b-024198e524a6|2026-06-25",
 "checked": "2026-10-25",
 "source_name": "data.cms.gov"
}