SEER-Medicaid: Brief Description of the SEER-Medicaid Database

The SEER-Medicaid data reflect the linkage of two large population-based sources of data that provide information about Medicaid beneficiaries with cancer. The data come from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program, which consists of cancer registries across the nation that collect clinical, demographic and cause of death information for persons with cancer and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) Medicaid enrollment information from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The linkage of these two data sources results in a unique population-based resource that can be used for an array of epidemiological and health services research. For example, investigators using this combined dataset can assess how enrollment in Medicaid impacts cancer presentation, surgical treatment, and survival.

Before beginning an analysis, researchers are advised to read all documentation to determine if the data will support their proposed research question.