June 7, 2010. Several states have developed all-payers claims databases (APCD), which provide an opportunity for states to understand more about health care utilization, cost, and quality than they can from other available data. A number of other states are also considering developing an APCD.
A new issue brief released by State Coverage Initiatives (SCI) provides a high-level overview of issues for states to consider in deciding whether to develop an APCD. "All-Payer Claims Databases: An Overview for Policymakers," outlines issues that states should consider, including governance, financing, and scope of data collection.
"These databases can be a great resource for understanding a wide range of issues that are important to state health policy makers," said SHADAC Deputy Director Julie Sonier, who oversaw the process of establishing an APCD in Minnesota in her previous position. "There are many technical and procedural challenges to doing this, but state officials should take advantage of the experience of others to address these challenges." SHADAC can provide technical assistance to state on how to develop and use a wide range of data sources, including APCDs, for making decisions about state health policy.