DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 
7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop S2-26-12 
Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850 
 
Center for Medicaid and State Operations 
 
SMDL #07-008 
 
August 9, 2007 
 
Dear State Medicaid Director:  
 
The purpose of this letter is to inform you of changes to the reporting specifications for the 
Medicaid Statistical Information System (MSIS).  These changes are effective with the quarterly 
tape extracts submitted after February 15, 2009, which would typically be the data captured from 
the first quarter of Federal fiscal year (FFY) 2009.  
 
Effective in FFY 1999, MSIS became the primary Federal reporting medium for general 
Medicaid program information, replacing the hard-copy HCFA-2082 report.  Under MSIS, States 
submit quarterly tape extracts of eligibility and claims data from their claims processing and 
administrative systems.  These changes affect only the four MSIS claims tape files:  inpatient 
(CLAIMIP), long term care (CLAIMLT), other or outpatient (CLAIMOT), and prescription drug 
(CLAIMRX).  No changes are required for the eligibility tape file submittals.  These changes are 
documented in the enclosed MSIS Data Dictionary replacement pages and will be available on 
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Web site at 
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MSIS at a later date.  
 
These changes provide for the expansion of the logical record length for the CLAIMIP, 
CLAIMLT, CLAIMOT, and CLAIMRX files to allow us to collect the National Provider 
Identifier [NPI] number, the provider taxonomy code, and claims internal control numbers.  This 
update will enhance the analysis of general program information and utilization patterns.  Again, 
for MSIS purposes these changes to the reporting specifications are effective with the quarterly 
tape extracts submitted after February 15, 2009. 
 
To lessen the need for another record expansion at some future time, and avoid additional 
burdens for the States, added space is also included in the diagnosis, procedure, and service code 
fields at this time.  As is our policy, we are providing as much lead time as possible for these 
changes to be developed, tested, and implemented before February 15, 2009, which is when the 
first quarter files for FFY 2009 are due to CMS. 
 
In order to minimize the burden of this transition for both States and CMS, we will not maintain 
two different claims record layouts for pre- and post-FFY 2009.  All MSIS claims files submitted 
after the February 15, 2009, date will be submitted using the updated record layout described in 
the enclosure.  This same record layout will be used for any submissions of pre-FFY 2009 claims 
files which are received after February 15, 2009.   
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Null values will be acceptable for pre-FFY 2009 files and edits will be conducted on first quarter 
FFY 2009 files forward. 
 
Please forward this information, along with the enclosed modifications to the MSIS Data 
Dictionary, to the appropriate State staff.  We have an ongoing working relationship with the 
reporting staffs from the States, and we look forward to providing any needed information or 
assistance to facilitate these changes. 
 
We very much appreciate your efforts to implement the dramatic improvements in program 
information represented by MSIS.  Please refer any questions or concerns about these MSIS 
changes to Mr. Roger Buchanan, at (410) 786-0780 or e-mail him, at 
roger.buchanan@cms.hhs.gov.  
 
  Sincerely, 
 
/s/ 
 
  Dennis G. Smith 
  Director 
 
Enclosure 
 
cc:  
CMS Regional Administrators 
  
CMS Associate Regional Administrators  
   Division of Medicaid and Childrens Health 
 
Martha Roherty  
Director, Health Policy Unit  
American Public Human Services Association  
 
Joy Wilson  
Director, Health Committee  
National Conference of State Legislatures  
 
Matt Salo  
Director of Health Legislation  
National Governors Association 
 
Jacalyn Bryan Carden  
Director of Policy and Programs  
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials 
  Page 3  State Medicaid Director      
  
Christie Raniszewski Herrera  
Director, Health and Human Services Task Force  
American Legislative Exchange Council 
  
Debra Miller  
Director for Health Policy 
Council of State Governments