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State Input (File) Format Deal them Right! The importance of a properly formatted Input File David Russell Michigan Department of Human Services March 2012

State Input (File) Format Deal them Right! The importance of a properly formatted Input File David Russell Michigan Department of Human Services March

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Page 1: State Input (File) Format Deal them Right! The importance of a properly formatted Input File David Russell Michigan Department of Human Services March

State Input (File) FormatDeal them Right!The importance of a properly formatted Input File

David Russell

Michigan Department of Human Services

March 2012

Page 2: State Input (File) Format Deal them Right! The importance of a properly formatted Input File David Russell Michigan Department of Human Services March

The Input File

Input file contains state records for any and all of the three matches.

PARIS’ standardized file layout document can be found on the PARIS website. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/paris/sys_info/index.html#fileformat

Page 3: State Input (File) Format Deal them Right! The importance of a properly formatted Input File David Russell Michigan Department of Human Services March

What are the Benefits? Improves the data returned to

you after being matched by DMDC.

Improves the data you are sharing with your fellow Member States/Territories on the Interstate match. Format must be followed, or errors will

occur upon return, and with matches provided to other states.

Page 4: State Input (File) Format Deal them Right! The importance of a properly formatted Input File David Russell Michigan Department of Human Services March

Dates – What’s the Big Deal? Many States use the start and

end dates as a filter. Enter a start date and an end

date for each program submitted.

Page 5: State Input (File) Format Deal them Right! The importance of a properly formatted Input File David Russell Michigan Department of Human Services March

File Date (Elements 49 -54)

Follow the format: CCYYMM stands for the year and month of the quarterly match:◦E.g., May 2012’s file date is to be

201205

States that don’t follow the format may have their records ignored by matching states

Page 6: State Input (File) Format Deal them Right! The importance of a properly formatted Input File David Russell Michigan Department of Human Services March

File Date: Part 2

Improper formatting hurts you and matching state:◦Out of criteria range for quarter

(filtered out)◦If record duplicates a prior quarter’s,

it can error out the other state’s batch process

Do not submit old data! This include prior quarter(s) data

◦Creates false hits and reduces efficiency

Page 7: State Input (File) Format Deal them Right! The importance of a properly formatted Input File David Russell Michigan Department of Human Services March

Start/End Dates: The Right Way(s) Option #1: Use the most recent

program start date or the program start date for the current certification period. Use the end date of the current certification period.

Options #2: Use the most recent program start date or the program start date of the current certification (same as #1). For the end date use 99999999 or 99991231 to indicate the program is still open.

Page 8: State Input (File) Format Deal them Right! The importance of a properly formatted Input File David Russell Michigan Department of Human Services March

Start/End Dates: Case Study

August 2011 examplesIndividuals with:End dates, but no Start dates for programs

marked as “Y” *No dates for programs marked as “Y” *Recent Start dates, no End dates, but

marked as “N” for programStart and End dates prior to match quarter,

but marked “Y” for program

◦ * Acknowledging these fields are optional.

Page 9: State Input (File) Format Deal them Right! The importance of a properly formatted Input File David Russell Michigan Department of Human Services March

The Importance of ‘198’Position 198 on the input file is

the SSN Verification Indicator. Please submit verified SSNs

on your input file.SSA’s Verification Codes are OK

to use.If left blank, some States filter

these out as unverified.

Page 10: State Input (File) Format Deal them Right! The importance of a properly formatted Input File David Russell Michigan Department of Human Services March

The Importance of GOOD SSN’s

The first SSN received by DMDC is kept, all others with that number are dropped.◦The bad SSN, if received first will

take over the spot for the state. Bad SSN’s cause extra work for

both states that match it.

Page 11: State Input (File) Format Deal them Right! The importance of a properly formatted Input File David Russell Michigan Department of Human Services March

What Goes in the State Optional Data: Positions 57-116?Whatever you need on your own

returned records from all three matches.

Some States use this to differentiate between agencies (for example the TANF/SNAP agency and the Medicaid agency – if separate).

Many states use this for internal system identifiers.

Page 12: State Input (File) Format Deal them Right! The importance of a properly formatted Input File David Russell Michigan Department of Human Services March

Mandatory / Optional FieldsComplete ALL mandatory fields. DMDC needs them to properly

process your file for each of the three matches you want to participate in

States need them to properly process Interstate matches with your State. ◦Contact information is especially

important.

Page 13: State Input (File) Format Deal them Right! The importance of a properly formatted Input File David Russell Michigan Department of Human Services March

Speaking of Contact Information…States need to distribute ALL

contact information to staff: Phone (& extension*), Email, Fax◦Provides for best method to contact

other state.◦Avoids calls to PARIS Admin. Staff

posted on PARIS website.* Some States uses State Phone

Extension field for PIN.

Page 14: State Input (File) Format Deal them Right! The importance of a properly formatted Input File David Russell Michigan Department of Human Services March

Y’s and N’s

If a Y/N field is mandatory, we expect to see one or the other (a

character means the question was answered). Insert “Y” or null for each

program (e.g., FS, MA, CC, etc.) Submit record only if recipient is open for at least one program. ◦Exception is Child Care Indicator in

position 321: Use ‘P’ for Parent, ‘C’ for Child and ‘R’ for Provider.

Page 15: State Input (File) Format Deal them Right! The importance of a properly formatted Input File David Russell Michigan Department of Human Services March

Y’s and N’s: Match Request CodeTo participate, at least one data match

request field must be entered as “Y” in positions:◦299 for VA file◦300 for Interstate◦301 for FED file

Only mark “Y” if you have a signed MOA on file at ACF for the intended match

DMDC tightened requirement:◦Old: N = No; All other entry = Yes◦New: Y = Yes; All other entry (or Null) = No

If not Yes, no file is returned

Page 16: State Input (File) Format Deal them Right! The importance of a properly formatted Input File David Russell Michigan Department of Human Services March

Have I Stressed that Contact Information is Critical?Inaccurate contact information is the

biggest complaint we hear from Member States.

Accurate, up-to-date contact information is crucial to States when following up on the Interstate match.

Provide as many contact options as possible:◦Email saves time for both states.

Page 17: State Input (File) Format Deal them Right! The importance of a properly formatted Input File David Russell Michigan Department of Human Services March

MA Contact Person InformationMedical agency (MA) data is at

the end of the input file (positions 446-495).

Only having contact information for one agency presents a problem for states that administer programs in different agencies.

The most common is TANF/SNAP in one agency and Medical in another agency.

Page 18: State Input (File) Format Deal them Right! The importance of a properly formatted Input File David Russell Michigan Department of Human Services March

Homework Assignment….Please go back to your state and

give your input file a quality review. It will make the PARIS experience better for you, DMDC and your fellow member PARIS states, DC and Puerto Rico.

This year’s focus: ◦DATES!

Page 19: State Input (File) Format Deal them Right! The importance of a properly formatted Input File David Russell Michigan Department of Human Services March

DMDC: Submitting your FileNotify DMDC when you submit/transmit a file along with a record count.

◦ After transmitting the data electronically, promptly send an e-mail to the DMDC primary and secondary contacts:  Portia Sullivan (primary)

[email protected] Donny Thao (secondary) [email protected] Allows DMDC to expect and to check for your submitted

file.

You may request a receipt confirmation from DMDC.◦ Some states track their own files transmission status and

inform DMDC afterward so they don't need a receipt.

Without any e-mail notices DMDC assumes those states are not participating, for that quarter, which is usually the case.

Page 20: State Input (File) Format Deal them Right! The importance of a properly formatted Input File David Russell Michigan Department of Human Services March

DMDC: Submitting Your File Part 2Do not wait until the due date for each

quarterly match which is the last date as to when PARIS data can be received; submitting early helps to reduce the IT traffic that you might encounter waiting till the last day. 

If a state will not make the quarterly file submission due date, contact DMDC prior to that date.◦ They may be able to hold off the match process

depending on the date. Plan your submission to incorporate the

current (most up-to-date) data.

Page 21: State Input (File) Format Deal them Right! The importance of a properly formatted Input File David Russell Michigan Department of Human Services March

DMDC: Deal a great hand = Payoff! DMDC strives to return all

data by the 10th of the month following the match. Therefore, if a member State is late with its data submission, that delay impacts everyone. We ask States to accomplish any internal coordination necessary to ensure that PARIS data is received at DMDC by the deadline date.

DMDC can provide limited testing assistance for new file transmission methods via new state systems

Page 22: State Input (File) Format Deal them Right! The importance of a properly formatted Input File David Russell Michigan Department of Human Services March

Double Down: Hit the PARIS Website!

◦File layouts◦Transmittals◦FAQ’s◦Documented Best Practices◦State contacts (for match

info)◦Administrative Contacts◦Board/Federal Partner

Contacts