Description

The PopHealth DataShare Reference File Library "RefLib" is a collection of publicly available terminologies/vocabularies and data that can be useful additions to healthcare data analyses. For example, the collection includes ICD9/ICD10 terminologies as well as CPT, NDC, and NPI Taxonomy.

RefLib contents are sourced from multiple entities including the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

Click below for full documentation of RefLib (pdf download).

RefLib Documentation.pdf (Duke Box)

Governance

All PopHealth DataShare users have access to the REFLIB schema in the phsdbp01 Oracle database. In order to use RefLib files for a given project, the protocol and/or data use agreement must include wording that describes linking data to RefLib files.

Key Considerations

Release Schedule

RefLib is updated annually at the end of the calendar year. 

Inventory

Unified Medical Language System (UMLS)

A. Berenson-Eggers Type of Service (BETOS)
B. Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature (CDT) 
C. Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) / Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS)
D. International Classification Of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) - Diagnosis And Procedure
E. International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) 
F. International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) 

Other data resources 

A. Restructured BETOS Classification System (RBCS) 
B. ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS General Equivalence Mappings (GEMS) 
C. Clinical Classification Software - Refined (CCSR) - Diagnosis and Procedure versions 
D. Provider of Service (POS) 
E. Multiple Severity - Diagnoses Related Groups (MSDRG) 
F. National Plan And Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) 
G. National Drug Code Directory (NDC)
H. Area Health Resource Files (ARHF) 
I. Crosswalk For ZIP Code To Hospital Service Area (HSA) And Hospital Referral Region (HRR) 
J. Area Deprivation Index (ADI) - 9-digit ZIP code level 

VRDC Access to REFLIB Components

DUAs with approved linkages may request direct VRDC access to these REBLIB components:

* As of June 2024, CMS is considering removing the HSA file from the VRDC.

To gain access, submit a request to the CCW help desk with an approved DUA Attachment A that shows them in the linked files list.

CCW will not grant access to the UPIN files unless CMS has added their EPPE codes to the DUA.  (The approved data list is on the DUA summary sent upon approval.)  It is likely that you will need to ask CMS to add the UPIN codes after the linkage has been approved; email cmsitsm@cms.hhs.gov and copy vrdc@cms.hhs.gov to do so.