MAX Prescription Drug File

Medicaid MAX (Medicaid Analytic Extract) Prescription Drug (RX) file includes records of filled prescriptions from fee-for-service (FFS) claims paid by Medicaid and encounter records for prescription drugs paid by a Medicaid managed care organization.

The Medicaid RX Prescription Drug file includes fee-for-service (FFS) claim and managed care encounter records that contain a National Drug Code (NDC) for a filled prescription.

What does this file include? (variable highlights)

Special considerations

  • Encounter record reporting may not be complete. Data reporting may vary by state, year, eligibility group
  • Information on the drug name, dosage and format is not recorded in the MAX RX file. An external source of NDC data will be required if that information is needed.

Availability of this file

Availability:

CY 1999-2015

For calendar years 2014 and 2015, the CMS Medicaid research files will be in either the MAX or TAF format depending on when the state transitioned to T-MSIS data submissions.

MAX files in 2013, 2014, and 2015, while in the MAX file format, may have used T-MSIS data as the source data. Please see the state and year availability table: 

See what is in this file