The Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System (T-MSIS) Analytic Files (TAF) Research Identifiable Files (RIF) are a research-optimized version of T-MSIS data and serve as a data source tailored to meet the broad research needs of the Medicaid and CHIP data user community. These files include data on Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment, demographics, service utilization and payments.
TAF RIF include annual files that contain demographic and eligibility information for all Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries, claims files that contain service use and payment records, and annual files containing information on Medicaid and CHIP managed care plans and providers.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) created several resources to support researchers in their use of the TAF RIF, including TAF technical guidance and data quality products.
To obtain access to the files, please see the Research Data Assistance Center (ResDAC) website for information on completing a data use agreement and requesting TAF RIF data. The ResDAC website provides a centralized source of information on CMS datasets.
TAF User Support & Data Quality (DQ) Materials
- TAF Technical Guidance: Annual Demographic & Eligibility (DE) File
- TAF Technical Guidance: Claims Files
- TAF Technical Documentation: Annual Managed Care Plan (APL) File
- TAF Technical Documentation: Annual Provider (APR) File
- TAF Technical Guidance: How to Use Illinois Claims Data
- TAF DQ Resources Available on DQ Atlas
- Introduction to TAF RIF (audio, transcript)
- Analogs to MAX User Support Materials: A Quick Guide
- TAF RIF Availability Chart
TAF Technical Guidance
CMS drafted several technical guidance documents to support TAF users, including overviews of the Annual Demographic and Eligibility (DE) File and all four claim types.
TAF DQ Resources Available on DQ Atlas
DQ Atlas is an interactive, web-based tool that helps policymakers, analysts, researchers, and other stakeholders explore the quality and usability of the TAF. The charts, maps, and tables in DQ Atlas show state-level DQ assessments and associated measure values for topics that are pertinent to Medicaid and CHIP.
Additional User Support Materials
Additional user support materials include an Introduction to TAF presentation, a quick guide mapping TAF user support materials to materials that were available for TAF’s predecessor, the Medicaid Analytic eXtract (MAX), and a TAF RIF availability chart. All states were required to begin submitting T-MSIS data by October 2015, but cutover dates vary by state, and the TAF RIF availability chart outlines when each state transitioned from MAX to TAF.
TAF Research Products
To support policy making and program monitoring, CMS is developing research products using the TAF data in several key areas. Click on the topic below for additional products and resources.
Per Capita Expenditures
Substance Use Disorder
Maternal and Infant Health
Physical and Behavioral Health Integration
Enrollment and Service Use Tables
Health Equity Data Briefs
The Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP) provide essential healthcare coverage for millions of people across a wide breadth of the U.S. population, including but not limited to low-income adults, parents, seniors, individuals with disabilities, pregnant women, and children. CMCS has developed a well-validated, evidenced-based method for combining high-quality, self-reported race and ethnicity data with indirect estimates. As a result of this new imputation method, CMCS is developing and releasing multiple data briefs describing the composition of the Medicaid and CHIP program. These data enhancements and briefs reflect CMCS’ commitment to evidence-based, data-driven health policy and investments, and increased transparency into and prioritization of data to identify disparities in access, quality of care, and health outcomes.
- 2019 Race and Ethnicity Data Brief
- 2020 Race and Ethnicity Data Brief, 2020-2022 data tables
- 2021 Maternal Health Equity Data Brief, 2020-2022 data tables
- Disability Data Brief, 2020-2022 data tables
- Mental Health or SUD Services Data Brief, 2020-2022 data tables
- Primary Language Data Brief, 2020-2022 data tables
- Rural Data Brief, 2020-2022 data tables
- Section 1915(c) Waiver Program Data Brief, 2020-2022 data tables
- Well-Child Visit Data Brief, 2020-2022 data tables
Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
T-MSIS Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Data Book
The T-MSIS SUD Data Book is congressionally-mandated through the Substance Use–Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (P.L. 115-271) (SUPPORT Act). The SUPPORT Act seeks to address the pressing need for substance use disorder treatment and prevention services, with a focus on opioid use. The SUPPORT Act directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to publish the SUD Data Book no later than October 24, 2019 and to issue an updated version of the SUD Data Book no later than January 1 of each calendar year through 2024.
CMS released the inaugural T-MSIS Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Data Book using preliminary 2017 TAF data on October 24, 2019, the 2018 SUD Data Book on January 19, 2021, the 2019 SUD Data Book on January 21, 2022, the 2020 SUD Data Book on December 2, 2022, and the 2021 SUD Data Book on December 12, 2023.
An interactive T-MSIS SUD Data Book data analytics tool that covers data from 2017 – 2020 is also available. The data and tables in this tool mirror those that have been produced in the SUD Data Book report and can be filtered, sorted, and downloaded in multiple formats using a graphical interface. The tool offers enhanced flexibility for users over the static display of information in the report.
- 2017 T-MSIS SUD Data Book
- 2018 T-MSIS SUD Data Book
- 2019 T-MSIS SUD Data Book
- 2020 T-MSIS SUD Data Book
- 2021 T-MSIS SUD Data Book
- Interactive T-MSIS SUD Data Book
The SUPPORT Act also requires a description of the quality and completeness of the data used in the SUD Data Book. To provide this additional context, CMS produced several stand-alone DQ Briefs for the version of the 2017 data used to create the 2017 SUD Data Book. Information on the quality and completeness of the TAF data used for the 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 Data Books is available on the DQ Atlas. For additional information about the quality of the 2017 data used to create the 2017 SUD Data Book, please select the links below:
- SUD Data Book DQ Brief # 4062 Medicaid Only Benchmarking in 2017
- SUD Data Book DQ Brief # 4132 Completeness of the CHIP and Dual Code in 2017
- SUD Data Book DQ Brief # 4142 Missing and Unexpected Values in the Eligibility Group Codes in 2017
- SUD Data Book DQ Brief # 5042 Using the Type of Bill Variable in 2017
- SUD Data Book DQ Brief # 5132 Missing and Invalid Diagnosis Codes in 2017
- SUD Data Book DQ Brief # 5162 Volume of Encounter Claims Records from CMCs in 2017
- SUD Data Book DQ Brief # 5192 Identifying Service Setting in 2017
- SUD Data Book DQ Brief # 5202 Usability of Procedure Codes in 2017
Per Capita Expenditures
State-level Medicaid per capita expenditures were calculated for inclusion in the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program Scorecard. This analysis draws on the CMS Office of the Actuary (OACT) methodology for estimating national-level Medicaid per capita spending. The data sources for the analysis are the 2020 and 2021 TAF data and CMS-64 expenditures reported in the Medicaid Budget and Expenditures System (MBES).
Download the methodology document:
This version of the per capita expenditures is a part of the Medicaid and CHIP Scorecard that was released in December 2023. To view previous versions of the Medicaid and CHIP Scorecard, please visit the archived Scorecard page.
Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
The Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities (SUPPORT) Act was signed into law (Pub. L. No. 115-271) on October 24, 2018, as a bipartisan effort to address the nation’s opioid epidemic.
Section 5042(a) of the SUPPORT Act requires all States to establish a qualified prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP). A PDMP ensures that providers have access to information about current and previous opioid prescriptions and other controlled substances at the time of an encounter. However, PDMP access is only the first step in addressing the opioid overdose epidemic. PDMP use must be part of a comprehensive approach that considers potential, unintended consequences.
Beginning in October 2021, all State PDMPs must meet the requirements outlined in the legislation. The SUPPORT Act also authorizes the Centers for Medicare and & Medicaid Services (CMS) to match State investments in their PDMP at 100 percent for approved design, development, and implementation activities, for quarters during fiscal years 2019 and 2020.
CMS has released a report to Congress that discusses state challenges and best practices implementing PDMP requirements under section 5042 of the SUPPORT Act.
Maternal and Infant Health
Identifying Pregnant and Postpartum Medicaid and CHIP Beneficiaries
Medicaid pays for nearly half of all births in the United States. Because pregnancy is a main pathway to Medicaid eligibility, and because income requirements for pregnant women are less strict than income requirements for adults who are not pregnant, pregnancy rates among Medicaid beneficiaries are generally higher than population-level pregnancy rates. Because pregnant woman are a critical subgroup of Medicaid beneficiaries and their identification in many administrative data files, such as the T-MSIS Analytic Files (TAF), is not straightforward, CMS developed a set of specifications and programming code to help researchers who wish to use administrative data to analyze this population.
- Ever pregnant refers to female beneficiaries who were pregnant at any time during the analysis period.
- Live birth refers to female beneficiaries with a claim for a live birth during the analysis period.
- Miscarriage, stillbirth, or termination refers to female beneficiaries with a claim indicating a miscarriage, stillbirth, or termination during the analysis period.
- Delivery outcome unknown refers to female beneficiaries with claims indicating that a delivery occurred, but the information in the data was not sufficient to classify the delivery as either a live birth or a miscarriage, stillbirth, or termination.
Identifying Newborn Beneficiaries with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)
Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a drug withdrawal syndrome in newborns, can occur following a woman’s use of certain drugs during pregnancy. Although NAS can result from exposure to many different drugs, it refers most commonly to withdrawal symptoms in opioid-exposed newborns. Newborns with NAS develop symptoms, such as tremors, irritability, fast breathing, and difficulty with feeding, within the first few hours or days of life. This claims-based algorithm can be used to identify Medicaid and CHIP infants with NAS.
Identifying Beneficiaries with Severe Maternal Morbidity (SMM)
Severe maternal morbidity (SMM) is an umbrella term for a number of unexpected labor and delivery outcomes that have significant maternal health consequences. Although there is no standard list of conditions defining SMM that is accepted by the medical and research communities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines SMM on the basis of 21 conditions (such as acute renal failure and shock) and procedures (such as blood transfusion or hysterectomy). This claims-based algorithm can be used to identify Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries with SMM.
Physical and Behavioral Health Integration
Identifying Beneficiaries who would Benefit from Integrated Physical and Behavioral Health Care
Integrating primary care and behavioral health services for beneficiaries with mental health (MH) conditions or substance use disorders (SUDs) is a high priority for Medicaid, which is the largest payer of behavioral health services in the United States. It is common for beneficiaries with a MH condition or a SUD to have at least one co-occurring physical health (PH) condition. As a result, these beneficiaries typically need physical health services in addition to services that address their behavioral health (BH) conditions. However, beneficiaries suffering from BH conditions face many challenges in accessing physical health services because of the stigma associated with mental illness, barriers to navigating appropriate care, a lack of understanding of their conditions, and poor coordination between services. This claims-based algorithm can be used to identify three distinct populations of beneficiaries would benefit from physical and behavioral health care: (1) beneficiaries who received services for any BH condition, (2) beneficiaries who received BH services and services for one of the select co-occurring PH conditions (a subset of Population 1), and (3) beneficiaries prescribed medications for a SUD who did not have a medical claim for a SUD (subset of Population 1).
- PBHI Reference codes
- PBHI Technical Specifications
- Beneficiaries who Could Benefit from Integrated Care, by Population, 2017 - 2021
- Beneficiaries Receiving a Behavioral Health Service, by Behavioral Health Condition, 2017 – 2021
- Beneficiaries Receiving a Physical Health Service Among Beneficiaries Receiving a Mental Health Service, by Physical Health Condition, 2017 - 2021
- Beneficiaries Receiving a Physical Health Service Among Beneficiaries Receiving a SUD Service, by Physical Health Condition in 2017 - 2021
Enrollment and service use data tables
CMS released two sets of data tables containing enrollment and service use information for Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries. These files are based on analyses that use TAF data. The enrollment data tables include data from calendar years 2016 through 2021. The service use data tables include data from calendar years 2018 through 2021. Both files include information for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These data tables are designed to be used by states or researchers interested in better understanding patterns of Medicaid and CHIP enrollment and service use.
Enrollment data tables
- Program Information for Medicaid and CHIP Beneficiaries by Month
- Program Information for Medicaid and CHIP Beneficiaries by Year
- Benefit Package for Medicaid and CHIP Beneficiaries by Month
- Benefit Package for Medicaid and CHIP Beneficiaries by Year
- Dual Status Information for Medicaid and CHIP Beneficiaries by Month
- Dual Status Information for Medicaid and CHIP Beneficiaries by Year
- Major Eligibility Group Information for Medicaid and CHIP Beneficiaries by Month
- Major Eligibility Group Information for Medicaid and CHIP Beneficiaries by Year
- Managed Care Information for Medicaid and CHIP Beneficiaries by Month
- Managed Care Information for Medicaid and CHIP Beneficiaries by Year
Service use data tables
- Acute Care Services Provided to the Medicaid and CHIP Population
- Behavioral Health Services Provided to the Medicaid and CHIP Population
- Blood Lead Screening Services Provided to Medicaid and CHIP Beneficiaries Ages 1-2
- Health Screenings Provided to Medicaid and CHIP Beneficiaries Under Age 19
- Respiratory Conditions in the Medicaid and CHIP Population
- Contraceptive Care Services Provided to Medicaid and CHIP Beneficiaries Ages 15 to 44
- COVID Testing and Testing-Related Services Provided to Medicaid and CHIP Beneficiaries
- Dental Services Provided to Medicaid and CHIP Beneficiaries Under Age 19
- Perinatal Care Services Provided to Medicaid and CHIP Beneficiaries Ages 15 to 44
- Pregnancy Outcomes for Medicaid and CHIP Beneficiaries Ages 15 to 44
- Telehealth Services Provided to the Medicaid and CHIP Population
- Vaccinations Provided to the Medicaid and CHIP Population Under Age 19