Brief descriptions of SMRF and MAX files
The Personal Summary File contains one record for every individual enrolled for at least one day during the year. The file contains demographic data (e.g. date of birth, gender, race), basis of eligibility, maintenance assistance status, monthly enrollment status, and a utilization summary.
The Inpatient File contains complete stay records for enrollees who used inpatient services including diagnoses, procedures, discharge status, length of stay, and payment amount. The SMRF Inpatient File contains 2 diagnostic fields and 2 procedure fields.
The Long Term Care File contains claims for long term care services provided by Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), Intermediate Care Facilities (ICFs), and independent psychiatric facilities. Fields include facility type, dates of service, and discharge status. The Long Term Care File contains 1 diagnostic field but no procedure fields.
The Drug File contains final action paid drug which beginning with 1996 data required an NDC. Earlier years of data may contain HCPCS (CMS's Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System) or NDC codes. The Drug File contains 1 procedure field but no diagnosis fields.
The Other Therapy File contains claim records for all non-institutional Medicaid services, including physician services, lab/X-ray, clinic services and premium payments. As appropriate the claims include diagnosis, procedure and date of service. The SMRF Other Therapy File contains 1 diagnostic field and 1 procedure field.
The basic descriptions for MAX files remain the same as those of the SMRF. A significant change is in the number of procedure and/or diagnosis codes: Inpatient, 10 diagnoses and 7 procedure; Other Therapy, 2 diagnosis codes and 1 procedure; Long Term Care, 5 diagnosis codes.
While the general descriptions remain the same, MAX files do contain additional variables or coding of variables that may be specific interest to health services researchers.
Last Modified August 5, 2008