Colorado Governor Bill Ritter recently signed legislation to establish an advisory committee that will be charged with developing an All-Payer Claims Database (APCD) for the state. This database will be used to promote transparency and enable both public and private entities to analyze health care spending and utilization in the state.
The advisory committee will be tasked with several duties including: recommending rules for data submission; establishing rules to maintain the security of the data and to establish under which circumstances it can be shared; conducting outreach to business groups and others who cannot be mandated to submit data to encourage voluntary submission; and developing a sustainable funding plan. The bill includes no state funding and encourages the advisory committee to seek “gifts, donations, and grants.” Colorado foundations have expressed interest in providing initial funding to support the implementation of the database.
The executive director of the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing will appoint members of the advisory committee. The Center for Improving Value in Health Care (a multi-stakeholder group in Colorado that has been charged with improving quality and reducing costs in the current health care system) will facilitate the advisory committee and other initial steps toward implementation.
See the accompanying article on a new SCI issue brief on All-Payer Claims Databases for more information about why state policymakers should consider developing these databases in their states.
