MRF is a CSV or JSON file, optionally compressed

§180.50(d)(4)

What it checks

The price file is a CSV or JSON file, either plain or compressed.

Checked by Care Carta. Care Carta's own check, for a requirement CMS's validator does not test.

How hospitals did

Passed 89%Failed 1%Blocked 10%Couldn't determine <1%

Results as of Oct 5, 2026. The most common reasons are on the Publication and accessibility page.

How Care Carta decides

Passes when the download is a CSV or JSON file, or a ZIP or GZIP containing exactly one. Fails when the hospital's file is another format, an unsupported or ambiguous container, or an archive CareCarta's safety policy refuses. Indeterminate when CareCarta could not prepare the bytes it received (PREPARATION_FAILED) or the file exceeded its size ceiling (CARECARTA_LIMIT).

Depends on: MRF downloads to an automated client

Version

Ruleset

hpt-v3, version 3

Last changed in

Ruleset 2

CMS data dictionary

3.0.0

Check ID

hpt.mrf.format.csv_or_json@1

Replaced

hpt.mrf.publication.digitally_searchable

Today's results all use this ruleset. A check never changes without a new ruleset. Full catalog (JSON)