The Medicare Inpatient (Encounter) file contains Medicare Advantage plan records for inpatient hospital stays.

The Medicare Outpatient (Encounter) file contains Medicare Advantage plan records from a variety of outpatient providers. Examples of institutional outpatient providers include hospital outpatient departments, rural health clinics, renal dialysis facilities, outpatient rehabilitation facilities, comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities, Federally Qualified Health Centers and community mental health centers.

The Medicare Carrier (Encounter) file includes Medicare Advantage plan records for professional providers, including physicians, physician assistants, clinical social workers, nurse practitioners.

Records for some organizational providers are also found in the Carrier (Encounter) file. Examples include independent clinical laboratories, ambulance providers, freestanding ambulatory surgical centers and freestanding radiology centers.

Researchers rarely use this file alone.

The Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility (Encounter) file includes Medicare Advantage plan records for skilled nursing facility stays. Skilled nursing care is the only level of nursing home care that is covered by the Medicare program.

The Medicare Durable Medical Equipment (Encounter) file includes Medicare Advantage plans records for medical supplies.

The Medicare Home Health Agency (Encounter) file includes Medicare Advantage (MA) plan records for home health agency services.