Uniform System of Classification Cross Reference File
The Uniform System of Classification (USC) is a therapeutic classification system created by IMS America and the Pharmaceutical Marketing Research Group. This system is market-oriented and is unique to the United States. This system allows the audit user to focus more directly on the market segments of interest and creates uniformity of drug classification across the various services enabling direct comparisons between these services.
The USC Classification System is more specific than the American Hospital Formulary Service (AHFS) Therapeutic Classification System and less specific than Medi-Span’s Therapeutic Classification System.
Medi-Span provides the USC Classification System Cross Reference File through linkage to the Generic Product Identifier (GPI). One USC Code can be applied to multiple GPI’s while a GPI will have only one USC code. Not all GPIs have a USC Code. Medi-Span updates these linkages on a quarterly basis.