Overview

T-MSIS makes available a Data Dictionary to support access to T-MSIS data requirements quickly and easily through an online Data Guide. This version on Medicaid.gov allows you to access the Data Dictionary which is sortable, filterable, searchable, and downloadable.

Navigation

Data Guide Landing page

The Data Guide is the online version of the T-MSIS data dictionary. It brings you the specifications for the T-MSIS files and their components of the File Segments and Data Elements, as well as Validation Rules, Data Quality Measures and Data Dictionary Appendices. The five tiles here bring you to the different features of the Data Guide.

The File Segment Layouts tile brings you to a list of the 8 T-MSIS file types, their layouts, and their requirements. The Validation Rules tile will bring you to a list of all active validation rules and their details such as the validation logic. The Data Elements tile will be a subset of the information that you can see in the File Segment Layouts tile but focus on the full list of Data Elements available in T-MSIS.

You can use the Glossary icon from the Landing Page to download a file with a full glossary of all T-MSIS terms. You can also click on the View Changelog link if you wish to see the changelog in its entirety. To see filtered changelog items, you can choose the View Changelog link from the individual Data Guide tiles. Most tables can be sorted or searched or filtered. And anything in blue will be an active link that will bring you to more another page with more details.

The Data Quality Measures provide specifications for the inferential measures used to access data quality. The Data Dictionary Appendices are a consolidated resource of data dictionary material.

These tiles enable users to search and sort the content for quick access to the documentation. Content, including valid values and validation rules, is updated with each release so that the information is never out of date.

File Segment Layouts

All 8 T-MSIS file types can be seen from this tile and will give you all the information that makes up that file, including the file segments and data elements descriptions and requirements. Clicking on the “View Changelog” link will give you the changelog for all the file segments. Clicking the download icon will download a file shows descriptions of the file segments layouts and their relationships. If you are looking for a list of all the data elements included in each file segment, you can get this file from the Data Elements tab. Drilling down into any of the file types will give you all the segments that comprise the file type. You can also see descriptive details for the file type from the “Reference” tab. Clicking into any of the file segments will give you the full list of data elements that make up that segment. Again, you can see the description for the file segment under the “Reference” tab. Drilling down into any of the data elements will give you all the details for that data element, specific to that segment.

Data Elements

This tile gives you the full list of T-MSIS Data Elements. The type ahead search function will give results back from not only the Data Element name, but for any of the information listed in the columns. Clicking on the “View Changelog” link will give you the changelog for all the data elements. To see the entirety of the changelog for all data elements, be sure you are on the Data Elements home page. Clicking the download icon will download the list of every data elements in each file segment, including their attributes and start and stop positions for FLF files. Each column can also be sorted by clicking on its title. You will see two data element numbers. One is the same number that has been used for the past several years. The second is a new data element number which is meant to be more intuitive and informative. You will see it includes the segment number in the data element number. Clicking on the data element number will bring you to a data element’s landing page. This page is specific to the data element of that file segment. You will see the details and requirements for that data element on the “Overview” tab. The “Valid Values” tab will show a full list of valid values for that data element. A few data elements will not include the full list of valid values but instead link you to the source material. The search function will give results back from any of the information listed in the columns shown. You will often see only one of the following populated: valid value name or valid value description. This is to be expected. Each column can also be sorted by clicking on its title. Data elements that do not have any associated valid values will show as message as such. The “Related Rules” tab will show any validation rules in which the data element (specific to the data element number) is critical in its evaluation. The “Other Instances” tab will list all other segments which have the same data element. Data elements that are not present in any other segment will show as message as such. Again, anything in blue will be an active link, such as the file segment listed in the header.

Data Dictionary Appendices

The Data Dictionary Appendices will include a list of menu tiles with the option for scrolling on the left-hand side. These are the full list of appendices with their description heading. Appendices ranging from Taxonomy values, codes for Medicaid/CHIP programs, eligibility and benefit types, category of service line definitions, claim adjustment, reporting financial transactions and qualifier fields with their associated value fields. Based on the selection of the left-hand side menu, you can view fully descriptive tables on the right-hand side and where applicable links to the relevant CMS.gov page.

Validation RULEs

This tile gives you the current list of all the active rules. The type ahead search function will give results back from not only the RULE ID, but for any of the information listed in the columns. Clicking on the “View Changelog” link will give you the changelog for all the validation rules. To see the entirety of the changelog for all validation rules, be sure you are on the Validation Rules home page. Clicking the download icon will download a file which includes each validation rule and their attributes. Each column can also be sorted by clicking on its title. Clicking into any rule you will see the full description of the rule. Anything in blue will be an active link.

Data Quality Measures

The Data Quality Measures combines the measure specifications with the data quality measure details and thresholds, allowing you to query and browse information about all the T-MSIS data quality measures. The Measure information on the Measures Directory Landing page is displayed via Measure ID, Measure Name, Priority, File Type, Type of Claim, Adjustment Type, Crossover Indicator, Category and Focus Area.

You can drill down to the key information related to a Measure by selecting the Measure ID. This view will also display the Annotation and Specifications related to a Measure ID. For any Measure with related Rules, user can navigate to view the RULEs details by selecting the displayed RULEs (displayed under Specification field). You can navigate to the Data Element detail page by clicking on the DD Data Element number.

Download option is available on the title bar of the Measures Directory pages which will allow you to export the Measures related documents: Threshold and Measure Specification file.

Downloads

The Data Guide document downloads are live and current and will produce documents identical to the information you see on the screen.

The changelog download is also live and will provide information identical to the information you see on the screen. If you wish to see the changelog in its entirety, be sure you are on the landing page of the Data Guide to see the changelog from all the different Data Guide tiles.

Versioning Nomenclature

The Data Guide version number X.Y.Z. will reflect the MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH and will increment as follows.

Patch version Z (x.y.Z) will be incremented if any documentation correction or changes are introduced. For example, a correction or update in data element (DE) coding requirements, DE definition, or any other documentation, including appendix document, Validation Rule, and DQ Measure Specification.

Minor version Y (x.Y.z) will be incremented if a minor feature/functionality is introduced. It MAY include patch level changes. Patch version will be reset to 0 when the minor version is incremented. For example, when new Validation Rules or DQ Measures are introduced, existing Rules or Measures logic is modified, and updates are made to T-MSIS National Valid Values.

Major version X (X.y.z) will be incremented if any major functionality is introduced. It MAY also include minor and patch level changes. Patch and minor versions will be reset to 0 when the major version is incremented. This is applicable only when T-MSIS Record Layout Changes are implemented.