WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a comprehensive suite of data products this month, offering a fresh look at healthcare spending, hospital utilization, and enrollment trends across the United States.
The newly published datasets provide healthcare providers, researchers, and the public with updated figures ranging from 2023 through early 2026.
Inpatient Hospital Data Update
CMS has issued the annual update to the Medicare Inpatient Hospital Public Use Files. This provider-level dataset summarizes how much was paid for services and how often those services were utilized by fee-for-service beneficiaries at Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) hospitals. The latest update now includes complete data for the 2024 calendar year.
At-a-Glance Statistics: CMS Fast Facts
For those seeking a broader overview, the CMS Fast Facts annual update is now available. This quick-reference statistical summary covers:
- Medicare and Medicaid enrollment counts.
- Total expenditures and utilization rates.
- Overall, Medicare provider counts.
This specific update includes a multi-year look at the agency’s operations, spanning from 2023 through 2026.
Increased Transparency in Drug Spending
In an effort to provide more timely information, CMS released quarterly updates for Medicare Part B and Part D Drug Spending. These datasets offer insights into the costs and usage of drugs prescribed to beneficiaries.
The current release includes data for 2024 and the first three quarters of 2025. CMS noted that these preliminary datasets are updated quarterly to account for claims lag. Once a full year of data is finalized after a sufficient “run-out” period, it is moved from the preliminary quarterly report into the final annual version.
Enrollment Reaches New Milestones
Finally, the Medicare Monthly Enrollment Public Use File e and the Medicare Enrollment Dashboard have been updated to include enrollee counts through January 2026. These tools provide a geographic breakdown of beneficiaries enrolled in hospital/medical coverage and prescription drug plans, allowing local officials to track coverage trends in their specific regions.
Researchers and members of the public can access these datasets directly through the official CMS website to analyze healthcare trends and government spending.
