Identification of Specific Variables: Part 1

Faith Asper, MHS

Director, ResDAC Assistance Desk

Objectives

Review the structure of the variables in the raw

data

Identify the resource document needed to

determine which data file a variable will be found

Review the coding scheme used to identify

variables

2

Review the Raw Data

What is included with the ALPHA file versus the

NMRC file?

Alphanumeric File

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HCRIS Data Model

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Hospital [1996 or 2010]_Documentation: HCRIS Data Model.pdf

ALPHA File Contents

The Alphanumeric file contains one record for

each cost report variable.

File contains only alphanumeric variable types

Some of the data elements found in this file

include:

˗ Hospital Name

˗ Provider number

˗ Yes/No variables

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What resource identifies a variable as ALPHA or NMRC?

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Resource Needed to Determine Variable Type

“Specifications” document (PRM 15-2) contains

the “Record Specifications” which will identify if

the variable is an alpha or numeric

˗ “R3P240S.pdf”, Table 3 (2010 Hospitals)

˗ “R25p236s.zip”, 96SPECS.xls, Table 3 (1996 Hospitals)

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CMS Cost Report Section http://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Files-for-Order/CostReports/Hospital-2010-form.html

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Specifications

This document includes several useful tables that

are used in identifications of variables and coding

schemes.

This is always included with the Provider

Reimbursement Manual 15-2

Some cost report downloads will include the list of

data elements in the “documentation” zipped file

on the provider’s cost report page

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Specifications: Table 3

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“X” = Alphanumeric value

Field size gives the maximum variable

width

Specifications: Table 3

Identifies the variables contained within the

download

Identifies the line number and column numbers

where the variable is found

Identifies the variable type (called “Usage”) as

either alphanumeric or numeric

Alphanumeric variables are identified with an “X”

Numeric variables are identified with a “9”

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NMRC File

How can I tell if a variable can take a negative

value?

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NMRC File Contents

The Numeric file contains one record for each cost

report variable.

File contains only Numeric variable types

Some of the data elements found in this file

include:

˗ Number of beds

˗ Number of discharges

˗ Net income

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Specifications: Table 3

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“9” indicates a number

Usage Definitions

From the Introduction of Table 3

Table 3 ‘Usage’ column is used to specify the

format of each data item as follows:

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Value Definition

9 Numeric, greater than or equal to zero

-9 Numeric, may be either grater than or less than zero

9(x).9(y) Numeric, greater than zero, with x or fewer significant

digits to the left of the decimal point, a decimal point,

and exactly y digits to the right of the decimal point.

X Character

Identification of a Variable

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Components to Identify a Variable

Worksheet Code

Line Code

Column Code

All three pieces are necessary to identify a specific

variable.

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Resources Needed

1. Cost Report Forms

˗ Found in Provider Reimbursement Manual (PRM), Part 2

˗ Found under the provider cost report page, “Related downloads”

˗ Zipped file within the download is labeled with an “F” at the end of the name. For 2010 Hospital cost reports is is “R3P240F.zip”

2. Worksheet Code Table

˗ File contained within the “Documentation” download

˗ Can also find this within the “Specifications” download in the PRM, Part 2

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Resources Needed

3. HCRIS Data Model

˗ File will show the length of the variables

˗ File will show the variable type

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Cost Report Form

Hospital Name

˗ Worksheet S-2 Part 1, Line 3, Column 1

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ALPHA File

How do you find Hospital Name from the raw

data?

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Worksheet Code Table

The Worksheet code table provides the list of all

worksheet codes used in the cost report data

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HCRIS Data Model

Worksheet code

˗ Length of 7

˗ Character value

Line number

˗ Length of 5

˗ Character value

Column number

˗ Length of 4 (1996)

˗ Length of 5 (2010)

˗ Character value

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Line Codes

Line codes have a length of 5

First 3 positions indicate the line

˗ Example: Line 1 = 00100

Last 2 positions indicate a subline

˗ Example: Line 1.01 = 00101

˗ Sublines occur when a variable is added to the form in

between two existing lines.

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Column Codes

Column codes have a length of 4 for the 1996 forms and a length of 5 for the 2010 forms

First 2 (1996) positions indicate the column

˗ Example: Column 1 = 0100

˗ First 3 (2010) positions indicate the column

˗ Example: Column 1 = 00100

Last 2 positions indicate a subcolumn

˗ Example for 1996 forms: Column 1.01 = 0101

˗ Example for 2010 forms: Column 1.01 = 00101

˗ Subcolumns occur when a variable is added to the form in between two existing lines.

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Cost Report Form

Hospital Name

˗ Worksheet S-2 Part 1, Line 3, Column 1

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Hospital Name

Worksheet Code = S20001

Line Code = 00300

Column Code = 00100 (2010 form)

All three pieces are necessary to identify a specific

variable.

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Crosswalk Between New and Old Forms

Crosswalk identifies equivilent variables between

1996 and 2010 forms.

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Special Unit Coding for 1996 forms

Note that for the 1996 forms, CMS codes certain

special units using cost center numbers versus

using the line number.

Refer to Documentation, Readme.txt for

information.

Intensive Care Unit:

˗ Do NOT use the line 6 code 00600

˗ Use the Cost center code range 02600-02619

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Summary

Use the Specifications file, Table 3 to determine if

a variable is in the ALPH or NMRC file.

Three variables identify a single variable:

˗ Worksheet code

˗ Line code

˗ Column code

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