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Bill > HR4418


US HR4418

US HR4418
Expanding the Availability of Medicare Data Act


summary

Introduced
04/07/2014
In Committee
04/11/2014
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2015

Introduced Session

113th Congress

Bill Summary

Expanding the Availability of Medicare Data Act - Expands the kinds of uses of Medicare data available to qualified entities for quality and patient care improvement activities. (A "qualified entity" is a public or private entity that: [1] is qualified to use claims data to evaluate the performance of service providers and suppliers on measures of quality, efficiency, effectiveness, and resource use; and [2] agrees to meet specified requirements, such as ensuring data security.) Authorizes a qualified entity to use claims data combined with non-claims data the entity has received, as well as information derived from evaluation of service provider and supplier performance, to conduct additional non-public analyses and provide or sell them to authorized users for non-public use (including to assist service providers and suppliers to develop and participate in quality and patient care improvement activities, including new models of care). Defines "authorized users" as service providers, suppliers, employers, health insurance issuers, medical societies or hospital associations, or any other entities approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). Prohibits a qualified entity from charging a fee to provide Medicare claims data. Requires a qualified entity and an authorized user to enter into a data use agreement, and prohibits the use of data or analyses for marketing purposes or, except in certain circumstances, its redisclosure. Directs the Secretary to provide Medicare data to qualified clinical data registries for purposes of linking it with clinical outcomes data and performing risk-adjusted, scientifically valid analyses and research to support quality improvement or patient safety. Requires charging a fee to a registry for such data. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to include among standardized extracts of Medicare claims data that may be made available to qualified entities, if the Secretary determines appropriate, also claims data under SSA titles XIX (Medicaid) and XXI (State Children's Health Insurance) (CHIP). Requires any fees charged for making standardized extracts available to qualified entities to be deposited into the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program Management Account (currently, into the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund).

AI Summary

This bill, the Expanding the Availability of Medicare Data Act, aims to broaden how Medicare data can be used to improve patient care and quality. It allows "qualified entities," which are organizations capable of evaluating healthcare providers and suppliers based on quality and efficiency, to combine Medicare claims data with other data they possess. These entities can then conduct private analyses and sell them to "authorized users," such as healthcare providers, suppliers, employers, and health insurance issuers, to help them improve their services and develop new care models. Importantly, qualified entities cannot charge for providing raw Medicare claims data, and both qualified entities and authorized users must agree to data use terms that prevent marketing or unauthorized sharing of the information. The bill also enables the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide Medicare data to qualified clinical data registries for research and quality improvement, charging a fee for this service. Furthermore, it expands the types of data available to qualified entities to include Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) claims data, if HHS deems it appropriate, and clarifies how fees collected for data access are handled.

Committee Categories

Business and Industry, Health and Social Services

Sponsors (11)

Last Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. (on 04/11/2014)

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