Medicaid Analytic eXtract (MAX) General Information

MAX Description

The Medicaid Analytic eXtract (MAX) data is a set of person-level data files on Medicaid eligibility, service utilization, and payments. The MAX data are created to support research and policy analysis. The MAX data are extracted from the Medicaid Statistical Information System (MSIS). The MAX development process combines MSIS initial claims, interim claims, voids, and adjustments for a given service into final action events. Unlike fiscal-based MSIS quarterly files, MAX data are organized into annual calendar year files. There are a number of other "value added" enhancements to the MAX data for users described below.

Availability

MAX data are derived from MSIS, and because it is necessary to allow for the delay between service delivery dates and claims adjudication dates, the availability of MAX data for a particular time period lags behind that of the MSIS data. Since the MAX data contain individually identifiable data, they are protected under the Privacy Act. They are available for approved research activities only through a Data Use Agreement (DUA) with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Note that only approved academic research projects and certain government agencies are entitled to a DUA to obtain MAX data.

Introduction

An Introduction to Medicaid Analytic eXtract (MAX) Data presentation is available that answers a number of basic questions about MAX, in that it:

Presents the source and an overview of MAX data;
Describes five types of MAX data sets;
Explains the need for MAX data;
Reviews a number of MAX data enhancements for Eligibility, Service use and payment;
Provides linkages to other data sources;
Describes related MAX data products; and
Identifies Medicaid data limitations.

Medicaid Analytic eXtract (MAX) Data Element Dictionary Changes 2005 to 2008

The MAX data dictionaries were changed after 2004 to include new data elements that are being collected through MSIS and new data elements that have been added to MAX:

New Eligibility Data Elements

Improved verification of Social Security Numbers (SSNs)
Expanded detail on enrollee race and ethnicity
Monthly dual Medicare and Medicaid enrollment (earlier years were reported quarterly)
Waiver plan identifier and waiver type enrollment in up to three waivers per month
Enrollment in 1915(c) waivers on an annual basis

New Service Data Elements

Expenditures for 21 categories of community-based long-term care
National Provider Identifier (available in 2009)
Provider Taxonomy (available in 2009)

Medicaid Analytic eXtract (MAX) Data 1999 to 2008

Technical information regarding more current MAX data (2005 to 2008) and earlier MAX data (1999 to 2004) is available. Please note that the data dictionaries and data element lists have included new data elements for 2005-2008, compared to 1999-2004. These downloads include:

General Information

MAX Data Availability by year and State.
Record Counts by State and file type.
SAS Load Statements - For users of the Statistical Analysis System - SAS, we have prepared a sample of the SAS load statements that can be used for each of the MAX types of files. While these load statements do not include all data elements for each file, they include most of the frequently used MAX data elements and examples of the various data formats present in the MAX data, including zoned decimal formats.
Data dictionaries – These downloads include the data dictionaries for the Inpatient Hospital (IP), Long-Term Care (LT), Other Services (OT), Prescription Drug (RX), and Person Summary (PS) MAX files. The record lengths and variable locations have not changed from 2005 through 2008, but there are definitional and coding changes that have occurred in each of these years. For this reason, new data dictionaries are being prepared for each year, starting with 2005. The format of these dictionaries is in three parts:
- Changes from the previous year
- Data element lists
- The full data dictionary.
Data element lists – These separate documents for years before 2005 include the data element lists for the Inpatient Hospital (IP), Long-Term Care (LT), Other Services (OT), Prescription Drug (RX), and Person Summary (PS) MAX files. As noted above, the data element lists for years after 2005 are included in the data dictionaries.
Data Anomalies Reports and Tables –These documents include reports and/or tables on the MAX Eligibility and Claims Anomalies.
Definitions of Analytic Measures - for all Validation Reports
MAX Validation Reports - These reports are prepared for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The reports provide a wealth of high level statistical summary data information on the data contained in the MAX files, including enrollment, utilization and Medicaid payments.

Medicaid Analytic eXtract (MAX) Archive Data 1998 and Earlier

The MAX Archive Data 1998 and earlier provides technical information regarding archive State Medicaid Research Files (SMRF) data for the years 1996-1998 and 1998 and earlier.

General information: This download includes information regarding what SMRF data are available and the record counts by state for 1996-1998 and 1995 and earlier.
Data dictionaries: These downloads include the SMRF data dictionaries for the Inpatient Hospital (IP), Long-Term Care (LT), Other Services (OT), Prescription Drug (RX), and Person Summary (PS) files for 1996-1998 and 1995 and earlier.
Data element lists: These documents include the SMRF data element lists for the Inpatient Hospital (IP), Long-Term Care (LT), Other Services (OT), Prescription Drug (RX), and Person Summary (PS) files for 1996-1998 and 1995 and earlier.
Validation Reports: These documents contain the SMRF data validation reports for the 31 states available for 1996-1998.
Data Anomalies Report: These documents contain the data anomalies report on the SMRF data for 1996-1998.