AHA Urges CMS to Expand Access to Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP Data

AHA today urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to expand the data it makes available through standard analytic files and to share currently available data on a timelier basis. Specifically, AHA urged the agency to expand the files to include all Medicare Part B carrier and durable medical equipment claims, and data for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Medicare Parts C and D. “The SAFs are a critical resource for researchers and providers working to understand current trends in the Medicare program, analyze proposed changes, and formulate new proposals to contain costs and improve outcomes, and ultimately benefit patients,” AHA wrote.