As discussed in a previous Query, CIVHC releases data from the Colorado All Payer Claims Database (CO APCD) in two ways:
- Non-public releases, for individuals or organizations to use to improve care for Coloradans
- Public data, for anyone to use to help make data-driven health decisions
A different query addressed the process required to license non-public data sets and reports of CO APCD data. This Query will provide an overview of public CO APCD data and the steps required to release analyses on civhc.org.
Public Data Release Process
Increasing access to transparent health care data for all Change Agents is foundational to the original legislative vision of the CO APCD, CIVHC’s mission, and Coloradans’ ability to make informed decisions that will have a lasting benefit to their communities and the state. Making public analyses and interactive tools available on civhc.org is one of the methods CIVHC employs to bring transparency to the health care marketplace.
A wide range of public reports are released every year covering health care costs, quality, access, utilization, and population-level information. One example of this kind of resource is the Shop for Care tool. The Shop for Care tool helps patients identify where they can go to receive the highest quality of care at the lowest price for common procedures and services.
Step 1– Determining the Data and Interactive Report Elements
CIVHC keeps a running list of potential population metrics for cost, utilization, and chronic disease. This list is based on feedback from collaborators, reports other APCDs are producing, topics of interest identified in the media, and research studies conducted nationally and locally. Each year, CIVHC consults with the CO APCD Advisory Committee to determine what new interactive analyses to publish or what new measures to include in already existing reports. An internal team then investigates the feasibility of every analysis as well as the availability of appropriate data elements for public reports. Once it is determined feasible, a methodology is developed along with a draft of the data visualization in the data visualization tool Tableau.
Step 2- Data Analysis and Quality Checks
After determining the methodology and data elements, an internal team conducts the analysis. CIVHC analysts run quality checks on the methodology, outputs, and draft Tableau report for internal review. For analyses with price and quality information on a named provider basis, CIVHC conducts a preview period with all facilities/providers via a secure online portal. The preview period is a minimum of 30 days before publication, during which time facilities/providers have the opportunity to review, validate and ask questions regarding their results. Facilities/providers can “hide” their information from public reports if data discrepancies identified cannot be resolved.
Step 3 – CO APCD Advisory Committee and Partner Review Period
CIVHC provides a preview of the report to the CO APCD Advisory Committee and other partners before release. Input from the Committee and collaborators is incorporated in the public report as appropriate. Review periods are generally at least one week in length.
Step 4 – Release and Promotion
Public release and promotion of a report can include a press release, social media posts, email blasts, blogs, newsletter articles, partner promotion, and website promotion. Additionally, infographics, webinars, fact sheets, and other supporting materials are developed and released to give more context to the data presented.
Additional Public Data Releases
CIVHC may provide additional smaller, static analyses and data sets outside of the larger interactive reports. These requests typically involve a smaller set of data elements and made available in an Excel downloadable spreadsheet. These analyses must meet the same requirements of other public releases and will go through to the CO APCD Advisory Committee for review. These analyses are all released publicly.
View our Focus Areas page and Publication Library on civhc.org to access all publicly available reports, and contact us at info@civhc.org for more information.